PHOTO: Rebels fighting in the Tal al-Zatar area of Daraa city, captured on Thursday
Rebels have renewed their offensive to capture the rest of Daraa city in southern Syria on the Jordanian border.
The rebel coalition Southern Front launched attacks on Thursday, claiming the capture of several districts in the west of Daraa by nightfall. The areas included al-Maftara, al-Srou, al-Qitaoui, al-Kaziya, and the hilltop of Tal al-Zaatar.
However, gunfire continued in some of the districts, as the Syrian air force bombed the advancing rebels.
The rebel operations on Thursday appear to be aimed at destroying regime armor and fortifications on a first line of defense, while trying to cut off supply lines from the north of Daraa. If successful, the strategy would prevent the Syrian military, and its allies from moving reinforcements into the city — or at least make the attempt dangerous and difficult, given rebel rocket launchers on the outskirts of Daraa.
Rebels in Tal al-Zaatar:
The Southern Front, which has captured part of southern Syria along the Jordanian border since spring, attacked Daraa in June; however, after making initial gains, the rebels were pushed back to the long-standing frontlines.
Daraa was the initial site for mass protests in the Syrian uprising in March 2011, following the detention of teenage boys by President Assad’s officials. The opposition holds surrounding territory and parts of Daraa, including the Old City and the nearby border crossing with Jordan.
