The border conflict between Israeli forces and Iranian-backed militias in south-west Syria reached its lowest ebb since hostilities in Gaza erupted nearly eight months ago. Iranian-backed militias were responsible for the only attack on Israeli forces last month, after a missile salvo targeted the occupied Golan Heights. The attack prompted swift retaliatory shelling from Israeli forces. At the same time, Israeli forces have continued regular incursions into Syrian territory in northern Quneitra, occasionally firing on civilians in the border area. In Rukban camp, residents have now gone more than a month without any food or aid delivery. The regime, along with Russian and Iranian forces, continue to enforce a blockade on the isolated desert camp.
Conflict with Israel
May was the first month since 7th October with only one direct cross-border exchange between Iranian-backed militias and Israeli forces. On 5th May, an Iranian-backed militia launched a missile salvo toward the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from south-west Daraa. Israeli forces responded with a volley of artillery, with no casualties reported. Though cross-border hostilities are on the decline, Israeli forces continue to infiltrate Syrian territory and fire at Syrian civilians nearing the border area.
Russian & Regime Activity
Regime forces embarked on a small campaign to detain young men wanted for compulsory military service in Daraa city and eastern Daraa. Regime forces also released three former armed opposition group commanders who had been detained previously for periods of four to five years. Meanwhile, after serving for four years, Daraa’s Air Force Intelligence chief, General Khardel Dweib, was replaced by Colonel Dhafer Hazeem. Russian forces continued to conduct near-daily patrols through parts of Daraa and Quneitra.
Instability in South Syria
Regime troops were attacked in two instances last month, with separate ambushes targeting a patrol in western Daraa and another near northern Daraa. At least one regime fighter was killed in the attacks; two others were injured. Another five IED attacks were recorded targeting regime forces, with blasts killing at least six soldiers and injuring two others across Daraa province.
Assassinations and targeted killings across south Syria continue to regularly strike both notable public figures and random civilians alike. In May, a total of 17 assassinations were recorded. Among the dead were a known drug dealer, regime intelligence members and arms traffickers.
Kidnappings, drug trafficking and general lawlessness have increased across south Syria in recent months. Armed groups continued frequent and widespread kidnapping operations across south Syria, abducting individuals either to profit from ransoms or to exact revenge or political leverage.
Political and Humanitarian Developments
Bashar al-Assad has set 15th July as the date for parliamentary elections in regime-held Syria; nominations for candidates opened between 20th and 26th May. General Yuri Babov, deputy head of the Russian Reconciliation Center in south Syria, visited Daraa to discuss preparations for the elections with Ba’ath Party leaders. In Suwayda, anti-regime protests continue, with demonstrators declaring their solidarity with Gaza and demanding the regime lift the blockade on Rukban camp alongside longstanding demands related to regime rule and the release of historic detainees in regime detention facilities.
Despite generally unsafe conditions in the south, more than 1,500 Syrians from the area returned from Lebanon last month, fleeing xenophobic, anti-refugee violence and incitement from host communities and Lebanese security forces.
At the same time, 40 young men from south Syria arrived in Italy aboard migrant boats from Libya in recent weeks; it is believed that 5,000 others from Daraa and Quneitra are waiting in Libya in preparation for the dangerous journey.
Rukban Blockade
In mid-April, regime and allied forces enforced a blockade on Rukban camp, a desert settlement of up to 8,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) close to the Syrian-Jordanian-Iraqi border triangle. For more than one month now, camp residents have gone without the delivery of basic goods. By mid-May, the camp had run out of essential food items and basic medicines.
