NEW DELHI: A tragic explosion in southern Syria’s Daraa province resulted in the heartbreaking loss of twelve lives, including a group of children. The incident, which took place on Sunday, was confirmed by a monitoring group tracking the conflict in the region. Daraa, a significant area in the 2011 uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, came under government control in 2018 following a ceasefire agreement with Russian backing. Despite this, the province continues to grapple with challenges such as poor living conditions and ongoing security issues, leading to persistent violence and instability.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Ahmed al-Labbad, a former state security agency employee leading an armed group, was accused of planting the explosive device that claimed the lives of the children. Al-Labbad has denied these allegations, as reported by sources within Syria. The situation escalated further when a separate armed group, linked to the Islamic State (IS) and currently associated with military intelligence, engaged in clashes with Al-Labbad’s group as a form of retaliation. The violence intensified with the burning of Al-Labbad’s residence, resulting in casualties from both factions and an innocent civilian caught in the crossfire.
Additionally, drug-related items were found at Al-Labbad’s home, complicating the already tense situation. Reports indicate that clashes are ongoing in the region, although Syrian state media did not immediately cover the events on Sunday. Instead, the official state news agency, SANA, reported a different death toll from the explosion, attributing it to ‘terrorists’. Daraa province has been a hotspot for various forms of violence, with former rebel groups retaining light weaponry under the 2018 Russian-brokered agreement.
Recent incidents in the region include the killing of a jihadist militia leader and seven members affiliated with IS in clashes involving local factions. The civil war in Syria, borne out of protests in 2011, has had a devastating impact on the country, resulting in over half a million deaths and severe damage to its economy and infrastructure. The cycle of violence and conflict in Daraa serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by communities in war-torn regions, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable peace and stability in Syria.