Russia, US and Jordan to meet in southern Syria amid tensions

A truck drives down a destroyed street in a rebel-held area in Daraa on July 19, 2017, as civilians started to return to the area following the July 9 agreement ceasefire brokered by the US, Russia anShow more

An agreement has been reached to hold a three-way meeting between the US, Russia and Jordan in Syria’s southern de-escalation zone, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said on Tuesday, according to the RIA news agency.

On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that only Syrian government troops should have a presence on Syria's southern border with Jordan and Israel, after Washington warned of "firm and appropriate measures" over truce violations in the region.

Jordan also said on Monday it was discussing developments in southern Syria with the US and Russia and that all three have agreed on the need to preserve the de-escalation zone, which they brokered last year and which has reduced violence.

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Only Syrian army should be on country’s southern border

US issues words of caution as Syrian regime expected to target Daraa

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Rebels hold stretches of that area and intensive Israeli air strikes in Syria this month were a result of what Israel claims was Iranian rocket fire from the area into the Golan Heights.

Both Russia and Iran are close allies of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported Syrian army movements into the south and state media have reported leaflet drops on rebel-held areas there urging insurgents to accept government rule, two signs a military offensive may be coming.