Syrian Army strengthens control in southern Daraa with new military strategy

The Syrian Ministry of Defence has initiated a military reorganisation effort in the southern province of Daraa, just days after the Eighth Brigade — a former opposition group supported by the UAE and later integrated into the Syrian army — surrendered its weapons to government forces.

This move is part of the broader strategy by Damascus to tighten its control over southern Syria, particularly in regions that had previously been outside its full authority, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The reorganisation aims to ensure greater government oversight and military presence in areas that were once considered opposition strongholds.

In a related operation, the Syrian Ministry of the Interior confiscated a large weapons and ammunition cache hidden inside a vehicle and arrested the driver, who was attempting to smuggle the arms into the neighbouring province of As-Suwayda. This operation underscores ongoing concerns about the presence of weapons and the potential for unrest in the region.

The Syrian government has expressed fears that some members of the Eighth Brigade, who retained their weapons after the group’s dissolution, could use these arms to stir instability and provoke violence in the area.

In an effort to solidify control, the Ministry of Defence launched a recruitment drive on April 21, calling for enlistment applications from residents of the eastern part of Daraa province. The ministry expects to begin training new recruits within two weeks, signalling the government's intention to build a stronger local military presence.

This recruitment campaign follows a meeting held on April 20 in Busra al-Sham, attended by Colonel Binyamin al-Hariri, the commander of the 40th Division, as well as senior officials from the Ministry of Defence and former regional leaders. The gathering was aimed at organising military affairs and registering both new recruits and former servicemen with the Ministry of Defence to streamline operations and enhance local security.

By Tamilla Hasanova