Syrian Army prepares for large military operation in southern Syria amid Saudi threats

One week after capturing the imperative town of ‘Itman along the Sinaymin-Dara’a Highway, the Syrian Arab Army’s 12th, 15th, and 38th brigades of the 5th Armored Division another large-scale military operation in the Dara’a Governorate; however, this time the target is the provincial capital’s countryside that is widely controlled by the Islamist rebels of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and Jabhat Al-Nusra (Syrian Al-Qaeda group).

The Syrian Armed Forces will attempt to retake the villages of Al-Yadoudah, Tafas, and Saida, while also working to pressure the Islamist rebels to leave the reconciled towns of ‘Ibta and Da’el. On Monday, the civilians living inside of Da’el and ‘Ibta attempted to raise the flag of the Syrian Arab Republic over the town-center; however, several residents were arrested by members of the Free Syrian Army’s “Southern Front Brigades” and Jabhat Al-Nusra before they could implement the reconciliation agreement.

Instead of launching an assault to recapture the towns of Da’el and ‘Ibta, the Syrian Armed Forces will pressure the Islamist rebels to leave the area by capturing the nearby villages of Tafas and Al-Yadoudah. The Islamist rebels can only hold on for so long along the Sinaymin-Dara’a Highway before they are ultimately overrun by the sheer numbers and advanced armory of the Syrian Armed Forces.

Yesterday, several reports from the Dara’a Governorate indicated that a large convoy of reinforcements from the Syrian capital of Damascus had arrived to the 5th Armored Division headquarters in ‘Izra’; this news further comes the information provided to Al-Masdar News. Meanwhile, south of Syria, the Saudi Royal Army is conducting a number of military drills in the Kingdom of Jordan, raising the alert level in the Dara’a Governorate. So far, nothing has come of these Saudi military drills and it is very unlikely that they will attempt to enter Syria.