Israeli forces launched a heavy artillery strike at dawn on Thursday, targeting the areas of Tall al-Jammu and the Jubailia Dam in the western Daraa countryside. The bombardment left nine civilians dead and several others wounded, sparking heightened tensions across the region.
The southern governorate has seen escalating developments in recent days, following a rare and significant Israeli military operation that was met, for the first time, by armed resistance from local factions and residents. Israeli forces attempted to advance into areas surrounding the Jubailia Dam and the outskirts of the town of Tselel, encountering gunfire from within the community.
In a statement, the Israeli military confirmed it had launched an operation in the rural town of Tselel. It claimed its forces came under fire from “armed terrorists” and that several had been killed during the exchange.
The situation underscores growing instability in southern Syria. The region continues to suffer from recurring violence, including abductions, targeted killings, and attacks on government checkpoints and infrastructure. Repeated sabotage of high-voltage power lines and internet services has triggered widespread blackouts across the governorates of Daraa, Suwayda, and Quneitra.
In mid-March, Nur-Eddine al-Labad, a former Syrian ambassador and prominent dissident from Bashar al-Assad’s ousted regime, was assassinated alongside his brother, Imad al-Labad, by unidentified gunmen at their residence in Sanamin, in northern Daraa.
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Many Plans and Difficulties
Speaking to the fifth issue of the printed edition of +963, Daraa’s Governor Anwar Taha al-Zubi said that Israeli threats and attacks on Syrian territory, particularly in Daraa, have been relayed to authorities in Damascus for months.
“We are endeavouring to develop plans aimed at strengthening security and protecting civilians from repeated Israeli attacks,” al-Zubi stated. “We are continuing to reinforce the security structure in Daraa, as the situation here is known to everyone.”
He acknowledged that significant challenges remain in restoring full state authority across the governorate. “There are many difficulties in fully reactivating state institutions, including the police, other security agencies, and public services,” he said. “But we are striving for the best, and things are improving gradually” Al-Zubi stressed that the coming period in southern Syria should be one of stability and reconstruction, away from tensions.
On Thursday, al-Zubi joined local officials, military and security commanders, and leaders of local factions at a funeral ceremony for the victims of the Israeli bombardment. The ceremony was held at the Rural Recovery Centre in Nawa, west of Daraa.
The event took place amid widespread public anger. Residents described the attack as a “massacre of civilians” and called for mass protests to denounce the Israeli strike, which many viewed as a dangerous escalation and an unprecedented incursion into Syrian territory.
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Challenges and Uncertainties
Addressing the unresolved status of armed factions in the area, al-Zubi admitted the situation remains opaque. “Things remain blurry” he said, “but the interim administration has tried to integrate them by opening the doors of army and security volunteering in the Ministries of Defence and Interior.”
The governor also warned that targeted killings and armed attacks by unidentified gunmen have persisted in recent months, further complicating security efforts. He described these incidents as a serious obstacle to restoring order in a province already struggling with the presence of drug traffickers, arms smugglers, and organized assassination networks.
Al-Zubi concluded with an appeal to the people of Daraa and surrounding rural areas to support efforts aimed at restoring stability. “We call on all residents and local authorities to help overcome the challenges, difficulties, and obstacles that remain to this day, though they are less severe than in the early weeks following the fall of the ousted regime”.
This article was published in the Fifth issue of the printed edition of +963, published on April 4, 2025.
Download the fifth issue here: +الصحيفة – 963
