Syrian regime launches ground offensive in Deraa

The push comes after a punishing week-long air campaign by Syria and Russia that has displaced thousands

TOPSHOT - Smoke rises above opposition held areas of Daraa during airstrikes by Syrian regime forces on June 26, 2018. Russian-backed regime forces have for weeks been preparing an offensive to retake Syria's south, a strategic zone that borders both Jordan and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. / AFP / Mohamad ABAZEEDShow less

Syria's army launched a ground assault on the flashpoint southern city of Deraa, state media said, after a week of deadly bombardment on the nearby countryside caused mass displacement.

Government forces have set their sights on retaking the south of the country, a strategic area that borders Jordan and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

The escalation late Tuesday against rebels is the latest in a week-long Russian-backed campaign to retake territory lost since the start of the Syria's war in 2011.

For a week, regime forces have ramped up their bombardment of countryside areas in the southern province of Deraa, which the United Nations says has forced 45,000 people to flee. The move shatters the yearlong internationally backed “de-escalation” agreement backed by Moscow and Washington.

But on Tuesday, state media said the army was launching an "operation" on the provincial capital itself, known widely as the cradle of Syria's seven-year uprising.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said it was the first ground operation inside the city since the escalation began.

"Regime forces targeted the city of Deraa with more than 15 surface-to-surface missiles, and Russian and Syrian air strikes continue," the Observatory said.

A man carries a child rescued from rubble after Syrian regime and Russian air strikes in the rebel-held town of Nawa, about 30 kilometres north of Daraa in southern Syria on June 26, 2018. AFP / Ahmad al-Msalam

An AFP correspondent on the southern edge of Deraa city said he could see large columns of smoke along the city's skyline and two airplanes circling above amid the steady boom of air strikes and shelling.

State television reported: "Syria's army is carrying out targeted air strikes against terrorist positions and fortifications in Deraa."

Government news agency SANA said the strikes were a prelude "before military units advance into the southeastern quarter of the city."

Rebel groups mainly hold the southern half of the city while loyalists control the north.

Syria's army is pursuing a divide-and-conquer strategy against rebels in the south, aiming to chop up the horseshoe-shaped territory that the opposition holds.

"The regime is seeking to take control of a military base south of the city, which will allow it to cut the route between Deraa city and the Jordanian border, as well as further divide the rebel areas," said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman, as clashes around the base continued.

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Overnight, regime forces had recaptured two villages in the east of Deraa province, which allowed them to cut off a rebel pocket, the monitor said.

A military source cited by state media said the army had seized both Busr al-Harir and Mlehat al-Atash.

Troops then arrived on the edges of the nearby town of Hirak, SANA said.

Air strikes and barrel bombs on Tuesday caused "unparalleled destruction across the town and to its infrastructure", 48-year-old resident Khaleel al-Hariri told AFP.

Hirak's hospital had already been put out of service several days ago by bombardment.

Raids on Tuesday also killed a rescue worker in the town of Busr al-Harir, the White Helmets rescue service said.

The UN humanitarian coordination office (OCHA) in Syria said at least 45,000 people had fled fighting in the area in recent days.

Displaced families on Tuesday could be seen streaming out of rebel-held areas in trucks piled high with mattresses, furniture, and blankets.

In the distance, air strikes left massive brown-grey clouds of smoke hanging above agricultural fields.

Rebels hold most of Deraa and the adjacent province of Qunaitra, while the government holds a majority of Swaida to the east.

The army began an intense bombardment of Daraa's eastern countryside last week, then started striking the rebel half of Deraa city.

On Tuesday, regime forces expanded the offensive even further.

"Russian and Syrian air strikes began hitting opposition positions in Deraa's western countryside near the Golan Heights, for the first time in a year," said Abdel Rahman, killing six civilians.

The regime bombardment has killed 38 civilians in a week, while 29 rebels and 24 pro-government fighters have been killed so far.

The United Nations had previously warned that fighting was putting 750,000 people in rebel-held areas of the south in harm's way.

More than five million people have fled abroad since the Syrian conflict erupted in 2011. Another six million are displaced inside the country.

Jordan has said it could not absorb a new wave of refugees and its border with Syria would remain closed.

Amman has a "duty" to protect refugees, Amnesty International said while telling the Jordanian government it "must open its border to those fleeing Syria".

Front lines had been relatively quiet for nearly a year under a "de-escalation" deal agreed by Russia, the United States and Jordan in July 2017.

To avoid a bloody onslaught, Russia is leading talks with Syria, Jordan, Israel and the United States to reach a negotiated settlement.