The Syrian Opposition Coalition’s (SOC) Office of Syrian Communities Abroad held a virtual meeting with Syrian-American organizations operating in the United States. In attendance were also President of the Syrian Negotiations Commission, Anas Abdah, and representatives of Dara’a in the SOC.
The two sides discussed the developments in Dara’a province in light of the blockade and military campaign being launched by the Assad regime on the province.
Member of the political committee, Muhammed Qaddah, gave an overview on the developments in Dara’a, stressing that the reason for the regime’s assault on Dara’a is the anti-regime demonstrations to celebrate the anniversary of the revolution and their rejection of the elections farce held by the Assad regime. He also talked about the distribution of military control by the Assad regime, the Iranian-backed militias, and the Russia-backed militias. He also talked about the course of negotiations taking place between the Central Committee on the one hand and the regime and the Russians on the other.
For his part, Abdah talked about the symbolism of Dara’a in the revolutionary conscience, making it clear that the Assad regime is seeking to destroy this symbolism with the aim of crushing the Syrian revolution. He stressed that he met with the UN envoy for Syrian Geir Pedersen and discussed with him the issue of Dara’a. He underscored the need for the United Nations and the international community to play their role in saving the civilians trapped in Dara’a by exerting pressure on the regime to force it to stop its military campaign and lift the blockade, and providing relief and urgent humanitarian support to the city. He also talked about the communications taking place with the United States and the major actors in Syria, most notably Turkey and Jordan.
SOC’s member Basil Ghuneim talked about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Dara’a as a result of the regime’s destruction of the last remaining medical center and the shortages in food and medical supplies. He pointed out that the uprising by towns and villages in the province played an important role in the victory of Dara’a and supporting its position.
SOC’s member Ayman Al-Asimi said that the negotiations taking place in Dara’a are no more than a trick by Russia which claims that it has no role in the ongoing military campaign on Dara’a. He stressed that Russia is the primary backer of the Assad regime which would have long collapsed without the Russian support. He made it clear that Russia aims to help the Assad regime retake control of all the liberated areas.
For his part, Chairman of the Syrian American Council, Dr. Zaki Lababidi, talked about the importance of requesting the intervention of UN forces in Dara’a to prevent the regime from carrying out new atrocities. He also stressed the importance of humanitarian aid reaching all Syrians without intervention by the regime which will use this aid to fuel its war on the Syrian people.
Dr. Tariq Abu-Ghazaleh said that leaders of the Syrian American organizations met with the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the US Congress who condemned the Assad regime’s assault on Dara’a.
President of MedGlobal, Dr. Muhammed Zaher Sahloul, talked about the importance of meeting the demands of the people of Dara’a, pointing out that the Syrian-American organizations will adopt these demands and convey them to the American administration. He stressed the importance of communicating with Jordan as one of the guarantors of the 2018 agreement which was signed between the residents of Dara’a and the Assad regime under the aegis of Jordan, the US, and Russia. (Source: SOC’s Media Department)
