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After negotiators between the rebels and the Syrian government tried to reach a comprehensive peace agreement to end a three-month siege, an unstable ceasefire was held in the city of Deira on Monday.
After the new government called for the deployment of nine military checkpoints in Dera, for combatants to surrender more weapons, and allowing government forces to search for wanted criminals in the city, intense negotiations were held to finalize the deal.
Due to new requirements, the agreement broke down on Friday, and the city of Daraa was bombarded by the government from Saturday night to Sunday afternoon, killing three people.
Rebel negotiators called on the Syrian government and its Russian allies to move all residents from the besieged city to Jordan or Turkey on Friday, further exacerbating tensions.
Adnan al-Masalmeh, a spokesperson for the rebel negotiator, told Al Jazeera: “The regime negotiates in a threatening manner during the day and bombs the city at night, causing heavy losses to civilian property.”
“When a delegation of elders from Dar’a province entered the besieged area on Saturday, the regime forces targeted it to discuss the latest developments with the besieged residents.”
Sarah Kayyali, a Syrian researcher at Human Rights Watch, expressed “very concerned” about the escalation of the situation in southern Syria.
“Civilians in Deira still face major challenges and huge risks,” she told Al Jazeera.
“Water and electricity are very rare. It is difficult for civilians to obtain basic supplies such as bread, medicines and food. The Syrian government does not abide by international law, so its attacks in Dera did not distinguish between insurgents or civilians.”
Dara, the capital of Dera province, was the first city to protest the rule of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad about 10 years ago.
At the end of last month, negotiators reached an agreement on the evacuation of some former insurgents from Dera to northwestern Syria. But after about 70 people, including civilians, were transferred, the deal broke down.
At the beginning of 2018, government forces took control of Dera Province, and the rebels handed over their heavy and light weapons in exchange for the ability to cease operations and settle in Dera City. However, since then, dozens of soldiers have been killed in ambushes and anonymous attacks.
In 2017, Turkey, an ally of the rebels, and Russia and Iran, allies of the government, reached a consensus. Astana Agreement, Which created four relegation zones, including Darla province. With the exception of one area in northwestern Syria, the government has occupied all degraded areas.
Since late June, the government has violated all agreements and besieged three blocks in Deraa. The opposition armed forces attacked government positions in most of the province.
‘Prepare for a long war’
The rebels said they need their light weapons to protect their property. The civilians said that the deployment of military checkpoints would disrupt their lives, and they were worried that the Syrian army would seize their homes while searching for wanted criminals.
“Starting from last week, rockets have fallen on this city like rain. We don’t have any supplies of guns, food or medicine, but we are still fighting fiercely,” a rebel who asked not to be named for security reasons. Jun told Al Jazeera.
“We believe in the efforts of the elders and local committees, but we are still monitoring regime forces and Iranian militias working together to dig trenches and fortify positions around the city, as if they were preparing for a long war.
“Our main problem is the pro-Iranian forces. This is our land and our home. The pro-Iranian army must go out through peaceful or military solutions,” the fighter said.
“I would rather die in Dera”
Approximately 38,000 civilians were displaced to the suburbs of Dera, and another 12,000 refused to leave. Some people expressed doubts about the new agreement and refused to transfer it to rebel positions under Turkish control in northwestern Syria.
“We are the owners of the land. I would rather die in Dera’s home than go to northern Syria,” a woman in the besieged city told Al Jazeera, requesting anonymity.
At the same time, sources said that government forces have been deployed to the west of Dar’a province, displacing dozens of farmland, mainly farmers.
“Civilians have the right to stay in their homes and refuse to be displaced, and the Syrian government is responsible for all violations that may affect them,” Kayyali said.
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