Southern Syria's Suwayda province falls under opposition control: Local sources

SUWAYDA, Syria

Following clashes with Assad regime forces, the Syrian opposition has seized total control of southern Syria's Suwayda province, local sources said on Saturday.

On Friday, local armed groups in Suwayda, where most of the population follows the Druze faith, issued a 24-hour ultimatum to regime forces to leave the area and prevent bloodshed.

According to local sources, representatives from local armed groups met with regime officials and demanded that regime forces withdraw from the province, stressing their desire to avoid armed conflict.

The local armed groups reportedly have no direct ties to other opposition factions.

Suwayda has seen ongoing anti-regime protests for over a year, with many demonstrators waving the opposition's "revolution flag."

Later on Saturday, the provincial center of Quneitra, located in southwestern Syria near the Israeli border, also fell under the control of local opposition groups, according to local sources.

Opposition groups in Quneitra began clashes with regime forces early Saturday. Afterwards, the local opposition groups took control of the provincial center, and regime forces withdrew and relocated to the capital Damascus.

Quneitra is situated some 60 kilometers (37.2 miles) from Damascus.

With the support of Russia and Iran, regime forces in 2018 seized control of Quneitra after launching heavy attacks.

Developments in Syria

Renewed fighting between regime forces and anti-regime groups broke out Nov. 27 in rural areas west of the major city of Aleppo.

By Nov. 30, opposition forces had taken control of most of Aleppo’s city center and established dominance across the Idlib province.

On Dec. 1, the opposition Syrian National Army launched Operation Dawn of Freedom against the terrorist group PKK/YPG in the Tel Rifaat district of Aleppo's countryside, liberating the area from terror elements.

Anti-regime forces captured Hama on Thursday and continued to advance Friday, seizing the Rastan and Talbiseh districts in the Homs province.