Syrian artillery units respond to rebel attack in eastern Daraa countryside

Despite a safe zone guaranteeing the cessation of hostilities across Daraa, clashes erupted between the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and a faction of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) in the southern province.

On Saturday morning, insurgents lined up fields guns and unleashed dozens of shells on the government-held town of Khirbet Ghazaleh, thus prompting SAA units to retaliate.

Later in the afternoon, a reconnoissance drone spotted the FSA artillery positions after which the SAA hit the area with a series of surface-to-surface missiles.

Subsequently, the FSA’s Shabab Al-Sunnah mourned the death of 4 rebel fighters on social media. Five more were injured in the rural area just east of Khirbet Ghazaleh.

The incident is considered a clear violation of the ‘de-escalation zones’ that span across four rebel-held regions of Syria, including Daraa province.

Khirbet Ghazaleh is a highly strategic town as it safeguards the Daraa supply line running horizontally towards the provincial capital.