MILITANTS IN THREE MORE SETTLEMENTS IN SOUTHERN SYRIA SURRENDER TO ARMY: RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY

EPA/MOHAMMED BADRA

Militants in the settlements of Umm Walad, Atbaa and Jebb in southern Syria have surrendered to the Syrian Arab Army (SAA), Major General Alexei Tsygankov, chief of the Russian center for reconciliation of conflicting sides in Syria, told media on June 30.

According to Major General Tsygankov, at least 250 militants have surrendered their weapons to the SAA and have decided to settle their status.

“Three populated localities – Umm Walad, Atbaa and Jebb – have joined the ceasefire regime in the southwestern de-escalation zone. At least 250 militants stopped resisting to government forces and voluntarily decided to verify their status,” he said. “They handed over 118 pieces of weapons, three vehicles and a lot of various ammo.”

Meanwhile, militants in the town of Bosra al-Sham are about to make the same decision. However, the deal there has not been implemented yet.

Despite all these developments groups of the Free Syrian Army and the Syrian government have reached no fully-fledged reconciliation agreement in southern Syria despite the Russian mediation. So, the SAA, the Tiger Forces and their allies, which have already liberated over 275km2, have been forced to continue their operation against militants in the countryside of Daraa city.

A general look at the military situation in southern Syria on June 30 evening:

Click to see the full-size image

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