Foreign-backed Takfiri militants renounce violence in Syria’s Dara’a

Foreign-sponsored Takfiri militants in a number of areas in the northern sector of Syria’s southern province of Dara’a have laid down their arms and renounced violence in the wake of territorial gains being made by government troops and allied fighters from popular defense groups.

The media bureau of Syria’s Operations Command announced in a statement released on Friday that militants in the towns of Abta’a, Da’el – located approximately 14 kilometers north of the provincial capital city of Dara’a – and Tafas have disarmed.

The statement added that extremists in the towns of al-Taybeh, Saida and Umm al-Mayazen have expressed readiness to surrender.

Meanwhile, Syrian soldiers and their allies have made a major advance west of Dara’a.

Syria’s official news agency SANA reported that Syrian troopers have managed to capture the strategic hilltop of Tal Zamitiyah village following a short battle with militants from the so-called Free Syrian Army.

The report added that the assault was led by the Syrian Army’s 4th Mechanized Division and Republican Guard forces.

Syrian army soldiers and fighters from popular defense groups are now working to cut off militant supply routes to the southern part of Dara’a, which serves as the main terrorist stronghold inside the city.

Syria’s southwest is strategically sensitive because of its proximity to the frontiers with both Jordan and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

The recapture of Dara’a is highly important because it borders the occupied Golan Heights which Israel has used to treat wounded militants for years.

The territory’s return to the Syrian government control would cut the much-reported collaboration between Israel and militants and deal a blow to Tel Aviv’s plans to annex the Golan Heights.

Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. The Syrian government says the Israeli regime and its Western and regional allies are aiding Takfiri terrorist groups that are wreaking havoc in the country.

Russia has been helping Syrian forces in an ongoing battle in the province of Dayr al-Zawr as the Daesh terrorist group struggles to keep its last positions in eastern Syria.

The Russian military assistance, which began in September 2015 at the official request of the Syrian government, has proved effective as the Syrians continue to recapture key areas from Daesh and other terrorist groups across the country with the backing of Russian air cover.

On May 21, the General Command of the Syrian Army and Armed Forces announced in a statement that complete security was restored to Damascus and its countryside after al-Hajar al-Aswad district and al-Yarmouk camp had been totally purged of Daesh terrorists.

The development was preceded by flushing the Takfiris out of the towns of Yalda, Babbila and Beit Sahem on the southern outskirts of Damascus.