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Syrian Army Preparing New Offensive Closer to Israeli Border
(Washington Institute for Near East Policy) Ehud Yaari - Partly enabled by the ceasefire further north in Idlib province, the Syrian army and its Iranian-sponsored Shia militia allies seem poised to renew heavy fighting with Sunni Arab groups in the southern province of Deraa that shares frontiers with Israel and Jordan, as evidenced by the arrival of significant military reinforcements. This combines with a long series of assassinations in the area and increased regime attempts to storm local towns. The current crisis stems from the Assad regime's inability to reassert control over Deraa province after recapturing it in July 2018. Violent skirmishes occur nearly every day, and popular demonstrations against the regime have become routine, with crowds calling for the removal of Shia militiamen. Meanwhile, army personnel are frequently being attacked on the roads, and nine regime police officers were killed inside their station in Mzairib village on May 5. The writer, a fellow with The Washington Institute, is a veteran commentator for Israeli television.