Daraa, Syria – A tragic explosion led to a deadly series of events in southern Syria’s Daraa province, resulting in the loss of 12 lives on Sunday. This violence stemmed from an explosion the day before, which claimed the lives of a group of children.
Daraa holds significance as the birthplace of the 2011 uprising against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. While the province came under government control in 2018 following a ceasefire backed by Russia, it has since been plagued by precarious living conditions and ongoing security chaos.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, reported that the violence erupted following an explosion in Sanamayn, where eight children lost their lives. Ahmed al-Labbad, accused of leading an armed group, faced allegations from rivals of planting the explosive device. Despite his denial of involvement, clashes ensued between his group and a rival armed group led by an individual with ties to the Islamic State.
The conflict escalated further when the rival group stormed part of Sanamayn, resulting in additional casualties. Labbad’s house was set ablaze, leading to the deaths of individuals from both groups, as well as an unidentified civilian caught in the crossfire. Meanwhile, the presence of drugs at Labbad’s residence added another layer of complexity to the situation.
While Syrian state media remained silent on Sunday’s violence, the state news agency previously reported a different casualty toll from Saturday’s blast. The ongoing civil war in Syria, which began in 2011, has claimed over half a million lives and devastated the nation’s economy and infrastructure.
In Daraa province, attacks, armed clashes, and assassinations are a grim reality, with former rebels who accepted the Russian-sponsored deal able to retain their light weapons. The volatile situation in the region was evident in January when clashes resulted in the deaths of a local leader and members of a jihadist militia linked to the Islamic State.
The cycle of violence in Daraa underscores the complexities and challenges faced by the war-torn region, as various factions vie for control amidst ongoing turmoil and uncertainty.