Northern Syria - 

Although the security incidents of assassinations and military operations have not stopped since the regime took control of Daraa governorate in southern Syria in 2018, it is noteworthy that the trend of these incidents has recently shifted to a new form represented in field executions, accused of being behind the regime’s military checkpoints Syria and its allied militias.

The situation of the regime in the province, which is called the "cradle of the Syrian revolution", has not stabilized, after peaceful protests erupted from it in the spring of 2011. The state of military control and the tightening of influence over Daraa represents nothing but a fragile picture and a situation ripe for collapse into conflict at any moment.

Finally, assassinations and executions take a form of revenge and mutual killing between two conflicting parties in an unconventional pattern, far from the armed military conflict, the first of which is the Syrian regime and its militias loyal to it from the "settlement" elements, and the second is elements affiliated with the Syrian opposition factions.

The figures issued by the Violations Documentation Office of the "Ahrar Houran Gathering" for human rights during the month of September reflect the extent of the state of instability and security chaos, as 27 operations and assassination attempts were recorded in several areas of Daraa governorate, which resulted in the killing of 23 people, including 17 civilians. In addition, 3 other civilians were wounded, and 7 of the assassination attempts survived.

Ending the era of opposition

The spokesman for the "Ahrar Houran Gathering" Ayman Abu Nuqat believes that the transformation of the assassinations into a pattern of field executions indicates the professionalism of the security cells of the Syrian regime and militias loyal to Iran to arrest and liquidate wanted persons and opponents of the regime at security checkpoints.

Abu Nuqat said - in an interview with Al Jazeera Net - that the executions often take place after several hours or a few days of arrest, suggesting that a quick interrogation by officers responsible for the checkpoints and then killing and throwing the bodies of detainees in the roads, adding that the gathering documented 5 field executions in last October.

Abu Nuqt confirmed that the executions and arrests in Daraa primarily target former leaders and members of the armed opposition factions, regardless of whether they support or reject the settlement agreements with the regime.

According to the spokesman, the goals of these executions are to end the era of the opposition factions and any body affiliated with them, in addition to emptying the region from the youth group opposed to the regime in particular, in order to empty the arena for the regime and Iranian influence in southern Syria.

On the reflection of the matter on the living conditions, Abu Nuqat explained that the rate of young people leaving Daraa governorate has increased significantly, pointing out that the sight of civilians queuing to obtain urgent passports in order to leave the country is the best evidence of this.

Despite the Syrian regime's military control over Daraa, it did not control its population (communication sites)

destabilize society

With the lack of loyalty to the regime, the cities of Daraa remained reluctant to surrender and surrender, and the role of local leaders and influential figures in society emerged, to play an important role in shaping and mobilizing local opinion, in line with the general mood of the residents of the southern governorate.

The head of the Free Daraa Provincial Council, Ismat al-Absi, considered that the Syrian regime was surprised in 2018 that it was not easy to govern Daraa despite controlling the land, which prompted it to adopt the pattern of assassinations as the best security method targeting the population.

Al-Absi said - in an interview with Al-Jazeera Net - that the recent assassinations and executions are an attempt to liquidate a number of activists, influencers and dignitaries of the regions, and the aim of which is to disrupt the local community, because these figures lead the revolutionary and popular movement, and without eliminating them it is difficult to dismantle and control the areas.

Al-Absi saw that the Iranian forces and associated militias are benefiting from this security situation, as they are working to exploit the Russians’ withdrawal from southern Syria, with the aim of controlling and extending their influence over Houran, southern Syria.

Exile is better than death

In light of the deteriorating security situation in Daraa, the people of the province had no choice but to leave, or at least to ensure the migration of their young sons and to keep them away from the possibility of being a target of the assassinations plaguing the region.

Abdul Hakim al-Hourani (a pseudonym) - a resident of Daraa province - confirmed that he offered his house for sale at a price lower than its real market price, in order to secure money for his only son to emigrate to Turkey and then to a European country.

Al-Hourani said - in an interview with Al-Jazeera Net - that he would prefer for his son a life of exile than to be sad one day in Daraa, as a result of assassinations or military incursions that the regime may carry out for cities that have so far refused to recognize him as an authority.

According to the “Ahrar Houran Gathering,” the percentage of real estate offered for sale in Daraa governorate may exceed one-third in some areas, especially in the western countryside of Daraa, due to the desire of hundreds of families to secure the costs of their children’s travel outside Syria.