The Daraa insurgency was a conflict waged against the Syrian government and allies by various anti-government forces in Daraa Governorate as part of the Syrian civil war. Insurgent activity began in late 2018, but drastically increased the following year. Over 1,200 attacks occurred in the year after June 2019, when the insurgency intensified. Tensions between reconciled rebels and the Syrian government would lead to heavy armed clashes between the two sides in 2020 and 2021. The conflict ended with the victory of government forces in 2021.
Background
Following the 2018 offensive that brought Daraa and Quneitra under control of the Syrian Arab Army, many rebels forces in the area agreed to Russian-brokered reconciliation deals, in which they laid down their weapons against the Syrian Army. The rebels also handed over their heavy weapons. Most rebels stayed behind, and controlled various areas in the province, as well as the Daraa al-Balad subdistrict of the city of Daraa. Those who didn't agree to the terms were sent to rebel held areas in Idlib Governorate by bus, with evacuations taking place in Nawa, as well as Daraa, in what came to be known as the "green buses." However, due to several factors, Daraa became unstable following the conflict. Tensions arose between the Syrian government and the reconciled rebels. Conditions in the province were lackluster. Most people in Daraa live below the poverty line, the poor financial situation has led to high unemployment, especially among youth. Basic services are in terrible condition, due in part to damage from fighting. Economic downturn and lack of security gave rise to crime and tribal justice, fueling the security chaos. The presence of foreign groups such as Hezbollah increased these tensions. In addition, forced conscription and arrests fueled anger against the Syrian government.
Factions The Popular Resistance was the largest of the opposition groups in Daraa. It was created in 2018, but began extensive operations in 2019. They usually carry out attacks on Syrian Army positions, intelligence agencies, and former rebels and commanders working for the government. The soldiers of former rebel factions which operated with Daraa are present in several towns and cities in the province, and have clashed with government forces on several occasions during military operations against their areas. The Islamic State was also present in Daraa, and had carried out attacks against the Syrian Army.
Timeline 2018 Sporadic attacks occurred in the province following its return to government control.
September
27 September – Clashes with ISIS militants take place in the town of al-Hara in Northwest Daraa, the first of its kind since July.
November 23 November – A soldier in the Syrian Army was assassinated by unknown gunmen in the town of al-Allan.
December December – There is an increase in attacks on government forces and collaborators. Such actions included an attack on an army checkpoint in the eastern Karak area, and assassination of two reconciled commanders.
2019
January Clashes took place on 11 January between the Syrian Army and former rebels in the town of Al-Sanamayn after an attempt was made to arrest a commander of the latter. Unknown gunmen shot a person in the same town the next day. On 16 January, A former fighter was shot in Tariq al-Sadd. The head of al-Msifira township was assassinated. On 21 January, a former rebel commander's house was attacked by men with grenades and small arms. On 31 January, several explosions were heard as gunmen attacked Nahteh checkpoint, one of the largest checkpoints in the countryside, with shells and machine guns, causing Syrian soldiers to withdraw to rear positions.
February On 4 February, several gunmen attacked an Air Force Intelligence HQ in the town of Da’el. The next day, an opposition group known as the Popular Resistance called on young men to join it in response to government recruitment campaigns, putting the authorities on high alert. On 6 February the Popular Resistance group carried out its first attack of the month, blowing up a checkpoint and killing at least three soldiers. On 14 February, the Popular Resistance assassinated a military intelligence officer in al-Yabudeh. The following day, a reconciliation faction leader was assassinated. On 16 February, between the towns of Sanamayn and Qita, a bus and car were attacked, leading to the deaths of seven soldiers. 18 February – In Sanamayn, the leader of the "People's Committee" was shot. The next day, a former rebel leader was fired upon in his car, wounding him. Gunmen tried unsuccessfully to kill the head of the Muzayrib municipality on the 20th.
On 25 February, a former judge was assassinated in the al-Yabudah court house. On the 28th, grenades were thrown at the cars of one of the godfathers in Al-Karak.
March On 7 March, gunmen target a reconciled rebel loyal to security forces, injuring him. Two days later, the Sanamayn city council President's car was targeted with a grenade, injuring his daughter. Threats were sent to Ba'ath party officials in the province by Popular Resistance and the "Southern Brigades," another group which emerged in Daraa, on 10 March. The Southern Brigades had reportedly carried out an attack on the Ba'ath Party headquarters in Umm Walad back in February. Demonstrations in Daraa al-Balad took place after a statue of former president Hafez al-Assad was erected in the city, causing anger among the populace. They lasted several days, and demonstrations in other towns such as Tafas. Meanwhile, Popular Resistance attacked an Air Force Intelligence detachment in Al-Mulayha Al-Sharkiyya, killing the chief of the detachment. Multiple attacks took place on a detachment in the town of Da'el with medium weapons and grenades took place on several different days. A relief official affiliated with reconciliation settlements was kidnapped on 30 March. On 31 March, gunmen attacked an army checkpoint in Daraa al-Balad, leading to casualties. The same day, clashes took place between the 5th corps and members of an Air Intelligence checkpoint due to abuses of the latter.
April On 2 April, gunmen opened fire on a car carrying two reconciled commanders in Bosra al-Harir, injuring one of them severely, while in the town of Sanamayn, a grenade was thrown at a former rebel's house. Attacks took place the next day, when an IED went off in the town of al-Suwar. The same day, a military security member was killed on the road to Khrab al-Shahem. Another was targeted on the same road, with him being injured and his grandson killed. An assassination attempt on a man working with Hezbollah also took place that day. Gunmen attacked an Air Intelligence checkpoint west of Karak on 5 April, and on the 6th, an Air intelligence HQ in al-Msifra town was shot at, leading for government forces to fortify their checkpoints. More attack occurred five days later, when, a mosque preacher was assassinated in al-Hrak and the Ba'ath party building in Daraa al-Mahatta, causing material damage. On 20 April, the car of a Ba'ath party official in Sanamayn was damaged by gunfire. On 21 April the Popular Resistance killed an individual in connection with Air Intelligence, and a former fighter was killed the next day.
On 24 April, Popular Resistance carried out a series of attacks on Syrian army checkpoints in the town of Sanamayn, and assassinated a reconciled commander in Muzayrib. Two dead bodies were found on the outskirts, though they could not be identified. An attack by unknown gunmen took place in another part of the province when doctor and his family were attacked at his home, injuring him and his family. five days later Popular Resistance killed a member of Air Intelligence on the road to Adwan town, and a reconciled fighter on the 30th.
May On 3 May, the Popular Resistance killed a reconciled fighter, and on the 9th, assassinated the commander of the free Syrian Police in the Al-Balad neighborhood, after he reconciled with the government. Further attacks continued on the 23rd, when a former fighter was assassinated in the outskirts of Muzayrib town. The same day, after the arrest of a former commander who joined the Fourth division, other reconciled fighters took over two checkpoints, but withdrew after the commander was released. The Popular Resistance killed a soldier of the Fourth Division three days later in Daraa al-Balad. On the 29th, a former ISIS fighter was assassinated in Tafas, and a day later, in Jasim, two army soldiers were shot and injured after the molestation of two girls in the town.
Siege of al-Sanamayn On 15 May, the government Criminal Security raided the home of Walid al-Zahra, leader of a rebel group active in the town, to arrest him. His brother and two others were taken. Clashes broke out, and 2 patrol members were killed in the clashes. Following this, the town was put under siege, and movement of people and goods was halted. Further clashes took place on 19 May as Popular Resistance carried out attacks on the Security Box in the town. A civilian was killed after being caught in the crossfire. The next day, reinforcements were brought to the area. On the 22nd, the Central Committee and government forces began negotiations with the government. The Central Negotiations Committee was created by reconciled rebels after the 2018 offensive to negotiate with the Syrian government. After a dignitary meeting with Russian forces, the siege of the town was finally lifted on the 23rd.
June Popular Resistance intensified its attacks on government forces and supposed collaborators. The Ba'ath Party building in Om Walad village was attacked. Popular Resistance shot a former Ahrar al-Sham commander near Saham al-Goulan. In the town of Nawa, Popular Resistance assassinated Khaled Abu Rukba in front of his house. He was a member of the Central Negotiations Committee, and had joined air intelligence. A soldier was also killed by unknown gunmen in Tafas. Popular Resistance assassinated Abu al-Majd, who was part of an Iranian-affiliated office promoting Shi'ism. A Shia Muslim living in Tafas was killed by known gunmen. During the night of 12 June, Popular Resistance attacked an air intelligence checkpoint on the road between Nahte and Busra al-Harir, killing or injuring all the soldiers. In the Quneitra countryside, a former commander who joined government forces was killed and his brother injured following an attack. More attacks by Popular Resistance and other groups took place in Da'el, Jasim, Nawa, and al-Hirak.
July On 3 July the first insurgent attack of the month occurred when a soldier of the Fourth division was killed. Two days later an air intelligence checkpoint in Om Walad village was attacked leading to casualties, and two members of air intelligence who were formerly fighters were found dead in the outskirts of al-Shammari. Following more assassinations, a Russian patrol was attacked with an IED. More assassinations and attacks on checkpoints occurred in Mukhtar of Al-Yadudah, Nawa, and other towns. Popular Resistance attacked the Fourth division's Zayzoun Camp with RPGs and machine guns, leading to injuries. Another bombing took place on 17 July, when an IED blew up a military bus travelling between Al-Dahiya neighborhood and Al-Yadudah town, killing and injuring multiple soldiers. The same day near Sheikh Saad, gunmen opened fire on a car, killing a colonel along with his wife and son. A lieutenant and member of the 5th corps would be targeted in the coming days. On 27 July, a suicide bomber detonated a booby trapped car at an air intelligence checkpoint between Al-Harak city and Mulayha al-Atash, killing six soldiers. The same day, hours later, the head of the Ba'ath party branch in Jasim was assassinated. Over the next three days, several attacks were carried out against checkpoints in al-Sanamayn, between Al-Jibayliyah and Ghadir Al-Bustan.
August