Northern Syria -

With the Central Committee in Daraa declaring its total rejection of the Russian road map that was presented on August 15, the scene in Daraa al-Balad has returned to square one, and the siege and military escalation have become the master of the situation, at a time when the living situation has worsened for the residents of Daraa al-Balad After nearly two months of closure and blocking the transit of supplies.

Despite the military escalation, rounds of negotiations and periodic sessions continue between the Daraa Committee on the one hand, and the Russian forces and the Syrian regime on the other hand, without any signs of a solution soon, in light of the people’s rejection of the Russian solution map.

Abu Ali Mahamid - one of the notables of Daraa al-Balad - said that things did not stop with the regime's adherence to the Russian solution map, at a time when negotiations were continuing "so that the last thread of a political solution would not be cut."

Syrian regime forces are trying to force Daraa al-Balad fighters to surrender with a military escalation (Al-Jazeera Net)

Mahamid described the scene in Daraa al-Balad as a state of undeclared war with the Syrian regime, noting that the people are ready to defend their homes and honor until the last drop of blood in the event that the regime takes military action against Daraa al-Balad.

Mahamid confirmed - in an interview with Al-Jazeera Net - that the people refuse to surrender their light weapons, for fear of massacres and revenge from the regime's militias that will storm the area, calling for international guarantees for the exit of all residents and fighters towards northern Syria.

Mahamid said that the people of Daraa al-Balad do not want war, but the regime is dragging them into it, and their highest demands are to live in dignity and justice.

2018 agreement

The official spokesman for the committee, Adnan al-Masalma, confirmed that the negotiations are still stumbling between the central committee in Daraa and the security committee of the Syrian regime, which is supervised by the Russians, as the committee discussed many items and indicated the impossibility of implementing many of them.

Al-Masalma added in a statement to Al-Jazeera Net that the committee demanded the Russian General Andrei to return to the 2018 agreement, which provides for the surrender of heavy and medium weapons only, the return of the army to its barracks, the release of detainees, the statement of the fate of the missing and the forcibly disappeared, and the lifting of security demands from everyone who made a settlement.

According to the families and dignitaries, the Syrian regime did not implement any of the terms of the agreement by withdrawing its forces from neighborhoods in Daraa and releasing detainees, while Daraa fighters handed over their heavy weapons.

humanitarian disaster

With the siege approaching the completion of its second month, the living crisis of thousands of civilians trapped in the neighborhoods of Daraa Al-Balad is exacerbated after they have run out of flour and medicine, in light of the Syrian regime preventing any aid from crossing the Saraya checkpoint, which is the last lifeline for the people over which the regime controls.

Although the Russian solution map included promises to open the crossing and allow the movement of goods and supplies to Daraa al-Balad, the Syrian regime has not committed to opening it, as it opens it at specific times.

Meanwhile, the bombing and military escalation continues on the besieged neighborhoods, in an attempt by the Syrian regime to pressure the residents and force them to surrender.

A photo circulated by activists about Russia creating a medical point to treat civilians coming from Daraa Al-Balad to regime-controlled areas (Al-Jazeera)

Media activist from Daraa, Obada Amin, said that the besieged people had a difficult night, yesterday, Friday.

The shelling by tanks, mortars and rocket launchers continued until the early hours of the morning, after which a civilian was killed and dozens were wounded, and the people bandaged their wounds using available medical equipment.

Amin added - in an interview with Al-Jazeera Net - that the general situation in Daraa Al-Balad portends a major humanitarian catastrophe, with the imposition of the siege and preventing the crossing of foodstuffs from flour and other crossing of the Saraya checkpoint, noting that the regime forces open it from time to time to cross only women and children.

Amin said that news reached the people in Daraa al-Balad that the Russian forces had created a medical point, which was said to be to treat civilians leaving the neighborhoods of Daraa al-Balad.