negotiations fail, violence spreads, citizens evacuate in dar’a al-balad

Introduction 

On 24 June, the Syrian government and its allies imposed a military siege on Dar’a al-Balad, a residential neighborhood of Dar’a city. Allied forces, including pro-Iranian and Russian-affiliated groups, used light and medium weapons to secure the area and established several checkpoints on the city’s outskirts, mainly on the northwestern, western, and northern sides.

The siege of Dar’a al-Balad began because the Dar’a al-Balad Central Committee refused to meet demands of government-allied Russian command in the area. An outbreak of conflict then followed talks between the Dar’a Central Committee and the Syrian government which took place throughout the month of July. On 24 July, local sources indicated that a preliminary agreement was reached to end the siege; terms included the surrender of light weapons to the Syrian government, and the establishment of three Syrian government checkpoints within Dar’a al-Balad. Following the agreement, three Syrian government checkpoints were set up in Dar’a al-Balad by the 4th Armored Division, the Military Intelligence Directorate, and 15th Division Forces, only to be dissolved on 28 July as a result of repeated attacks on the checkpoints and military vehicles in the area.

Russia is once again playing the role of mediator, with members of its military police meeting with representatives of the Central Committee in Dar’a al-Balad to discuss local demands, and agreeing to relay these back to Russian leadership. At the same time however, the Syrian government escalated threats of an ‘imminent offensive’ on the area should locals fail to cooperate and surrender their weapons. These events took place amid international concerns and calls for an end of the siege.

Due to the increasing hostilities, attempts to resume talks failed. This was followed by opposition attacks on remaining checkpoints in Dar’a al-Balad, with over 25 government personnel, including high-ranking members of the military, reportedly kidnapped. Since then, violence in Dar’a al-Balad has increased, with spillover events expanding to nearby areas such as ash-Shajara, Tassil, al-Bakkar, Zayzoun, and Tafas, among others. As insecurity continues in the area and with de-escalation talks reaching a dead-end, several tribes from Dar’a al-Balad have requested a ‘collective evacuation’ from the area, guaranteeing them a safe exit. Sources indicate that talks over a potential mass exodus from Dar’a al-Balad to the opposition-controlled may be on the table.

Once again, negotiations have repeatedly failed between the Syrian government and the Dar’a Central Committee, with Russian mediation proving ineffective, while clashes have spread to several other communities in southern Dar’a. On 3 August, the Syrian government once again began shelling Dar’a al Balad -- it is expected that armed conflict in the area will continue.