2018 Southern Syria offensive

Eastern Daraa offensive (June 2018)
Part of the Daraa Governorate campaign of the Syrian Civil War
Situation in Southwestern Syria (23 June 2018)   Syrian Army control   Syrian Opposition control
Date 18 June 2018 – present (−1 month and 2 days) Location Eastern Daraa Governorate and western Suwayda Governorate, southwestern Syria Status Ongoing
Belligerents
Syria Syrian Armed Forces Palestine Liberation Army Liwa al-Quds Supported by: Russia Iran	Free Syrian Army Southern Front Army of Free Tribes Ahrar al-Sham Tahrir al-Sham Criterion Brigades Jaysh al-Islam Supported by: Jordan United States (allegedly)
Commanders and leaders
Brig. Gen. Suheil al-Hassan (Tiger Forces) Col. Ghiath Dalla (42nd Armoured Brigade)	Muhammad Majid al-Khatib (Criterion Brigades) 'Abu Hatem' Rakan al-Khadir
Units involved
Syrian Armed Forces Syrian Army Special Forces Tiger Forces Taha Group 14th Special Forces Division 15th Special Forces Division 4th Armoured Division 42nd Armoured Brigade Republican Guard 1st Corps 7th Infantry Division 9th Armoured Division National Defense Force Syrian Air Force	Free Syrian Army Southern Front Amoud Horan Brigade Alliance of Southern Forces Omari Brigades Central Operations Room Bunyan al-Marsous Operations Room Close Ranks Operations Room Repel the Invaders Operations Room Triangle of Death Operations Room Repel the Aggressors Operations Room Gathering of Revolutionaries of Mahajah Ahrar al-Sham Liwa Omar al-Mukhtar Liwa Muhammad ibn Abdullah Liwa al-Fatah
Strength
30,000	Unknown
Casualties and losses
13 killed	10 killed
24 civilians killed

Eastern Daraa offensive (June 2018) is a military operation launched by the Syrian Army and its allies against the rebels in South Syria. As the Syrian Government is preparing for a larger campaign in Southern Syria it has launched a surprise attack on rebel held areas in the Eastern part of the Daraa Governorate to fracture rebel held lines and weaken morale, ahead of their planned offensive in the greater southern Syria region.

Conflict

On 18 June, during the night the Syrian military captured several farms near Busra Al-Harir and Masekah. On the same day Syrian Government forces also attacked the opposition held towns of Busra Al-Sham, Ghara Sharqiyah, and Ghara Gharbiyah, the attacks were focused on rebel fortifications inside the towns. Reports also emerged that the first phase of the Syrian offensive in Daraa will focus on Eastern Daraa and capturing the Nasib Border Crossing. While the Syrian military launched their attacks the Southern Front and Tahrir al-Sham attempted to push back against the Government's offensive by pushing into the Suwayda Governorate but they were repelled.

On 19 June, Tahrir al-Sham shelled the city of As-Suwayda in response to the Government's attacks on rebel positions, while the Government simultaneously has another offensive active against ISIL in the Northeastern part of the Suwayda Governorate. On the same day the Syrian military fired missiles into the villages of Asim, Nahta, Musika, Jisri, and Al-Bustan outside the city of Daraa resulting in the death of 3 civilians. The Syrian Government also attacked several rebel groups with the eventual goal of isolating the al-Lajat region, the Syrian military also advanced towards Al-Duweiri, as a result of the Syrian army's surprise attack 4 opposition groups created a joint operations room called Tajammu Thuwar Mahajah to repel further Government attacks.

On 20 June, early in the morning the Syrian military led by the Tiger Forces began using heavy artillery and missiles to attempt to take the village of Busra Al-Harir as well as an air defense thought to be captured earlier by Syrian forces. Later on the same day Syrian forces reportedly captured al-Museikah and al-Dallafa and cut off the rebels from al-Lajat. Rebel forces denied that any advances were made. It was later reported that SAA artillery struck many villages, including al-Museikah.

On 21 June, during the middle of the night the Syrian airforce conducted an air raid in the area specifically targeting an Ahrar al-Sham base near Al-Hirak killing 10 fighters from the group, the air raid also targeted Busra Al-Sham, Busra Al-Harir, Tal Al-Harrah, Nahteh, and Al-Musaykah. Along with aerial bombardment the Syrian military also used surface-to-surface missiles and artillery on the villages. The Syrian military also reportedly cutoff rebel supply lines in the area. With government forces firing missiles into rebel held areas and making excessive gains in the area, the rebels fired missiles into Suwayda in retaliation to the government's offensive.

On 22 June, because of the increase of violence along the Syrian-Jordanian border, the Jordanian military was deployed across Jordan's northern border with Syria. While fighting with rebel forces, the Syrian military fired 30 missiles into Busra Al-Sham, Busra Al-Harir, and Al-Karak. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported that the government has used 12 barrel bombs since the start of the offensive. Reports that the Syrian military and allies captured the villages of Musaykah and al-Dallafa near al-Lajat have proven to be false, with the Syrian opposition still maintaining control over the villages, however reports did emerge that the Syrian government and allies have captured Deir Dama and Al-Bustan from rebel forces, both of which are also near al-Lajat.

Reactions

Supranational

• United Nations, the OCHA stated that the UN was, "concerned about reports of an escalation of violence in Daraa... which is endangering civilians and causing hundreds of families to become displaced."

State

• United States, the American Envoy to the UN, Nikki Haley said regarding recent clashes, “The Syrian regime’s violations of the ceasefire in southwest Syria need to stop,” while also saying, "Russia will ultimately bear responsibility for any further escalations in Syria."

See also

• As-Suwayda offensive (June 2018)
• Southern Damascus offensive (April–May 2018)