Syrian opposition forces thwarted a major attack by regime forces and allied militias on southern Daraa city as hundreds of families have been fleeing the border province to escape heavy aerial bombing, local activists said.
Backed by Lebanese Hezbollah militia, the Assad army seeks to take the opposition-held neighborhoods in the Old City of Daraa.
Rebel factions deterred Saturday’s attack on Daraa camp, a shelter for Palestinian refugees who fled the 6-day-war in June1967 with Israel.
Since early Saturday, the regime fired 68 surface-to-surface missiles and dropped at least 12 barrel bombs, according to activists.
About 800 families left the Old City of Daraa this week, Mohamed al-Masalmeh head of Daraa’s local council said, demanding all civil workers and organizations to provide help the displaced people who are fleeing regime’s major offensive.
Daraa is understood to lie within four "de-escalation" zones around Syria, where Russia, Turkey, and Iran have guaranteed cease-fires between the warring parties. The precise boundaries of the zones are unclear.
On Thursday, the regime warplanes pounded Daraa with incendiary bombs, including the grand mosque in the Old City, residents said.
The Napalm bombs hit the neighborhoods of Daraa al-Balad, al-Sad and al-Mukhayyam. The bombs have alo hit al-Omary Mosque; the northern part was completely damaged, according to activists.
More than 465,000 people have been killed by the Syrian regime and allied militias since the conflict began in March 2011 with demonstrations against Bashar Assad
