Activists published on social media a video showing young men tearing down photos of Bashar al-Assad that were hung at the entrance of a government building in the town of Sanamein in northern rural Dara’a.
The cameraman is heard saying that the video footage was filmed on June 25. The video is reminiscent of the early days of the Syrian revolution.
Anti-regime sentiments have been building up in Dara’a province despite the so-called reconciliation agreements that were reached in southern Syria in the spring of 2018. Last month, the tensions escalated into clashes between former fighters of the Free Syrian Army and regime forces, with reports about the death of pro-regime militants.
FSA fighters have also kidnapped pro-regime militants in Dara’a province to force the Assad regime to release young people it has recently detained in Dara’a.
Last week, the ‘Ahrar Houran Conglomerate’ released a statement calling on the young people in the province to stay indoors as much as they can to avoid being detained by the Assad regime. The statement stressed that bowing to the regime’s threats would allow the regime to use them as cannon fodder in its ongoing military campaign against their fellow Syrians in northwestern Syria.
Observers have expected a renewed insurgency in Dara’a as the Assad regime is putting increasing pressure on civilians and committing violations against them, adding that the Assad might once again lose control of the region. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)