Thousands fled fighting in southern Syria: UN

The United Nations (UN) on Thursday (August 5) called for a ceasefire in the southern Syrian province of Daraa, where it said recent fighting forced 18,000 to flee.

Fighting between Syrian regime forces and armed opposition groups last month killed at least 28 people in Daraa, a flashpoint province that is considered the cradle of the uprising against the brutal regime of Bashar al-Assad.

The clashes, in which at least eight civilians were killed, including children, have died down over the past week but were the most intense since the Syrian regime regained control of the region in 2018.

Most of the violence has been focused on Daraa al-Balad, a southern district of Daraa's provincial capital and a former opposition hub that continues to house ex-opposition fighters.

"The escalation in hostilities has forced at least 18,000 civilians to flee Daraa al-Balad since July 28," the office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said.

"There needs to be an immediate ceasefire to alleviate the suffering of civilians in Daraa," Bachelet said in a statement.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Russian-mediated ceasefire talks are under way between regime forces and representatives of opposition fighters.

Russian-backed Syrian troops and allied forces recaptured Daraa province from opposition groups in 2018, in a symbolic blow to the anti-regime uprising.

Thousands of fighters evacuated under a Moscow-brokered deal, but many former opposition fighters also stayed on in the province, with some joining the regime forces in fulfillment of their mandatory military service.

State institutions have returned to the province, but the Syrian regime's army has still not deployed in some areas, including Daraa al-Balad.

Civilians 'effectively under siege'

Last month's clashes came after regime forces tightened control around Daraa al-Balad in a bid to pressure opposition fighters there to withdraw to opposition-held territory in Syria's north.

"In recent days, they have only been allowing pedestrians out of Daraa al-Balad along the al-Saraya road, subjecting people to strict security checks," the UN said.

Bachelet said civilians in Daraa al-Balad were effectively "under siege".

"They are facing checkpoints, restrictions on their movements, tanks on the streets and their property is being seized and stolen," she said.

Local tribes on Thursday called for the siege to be lifted and denounced attacks on residential neighbourhoods in Daraa city, the Observatory said.

"We also condemn the siege imposed on the people of Daraa al-Balad and other areas under regime siege, and we reject the ongoing threats of killing, destruction and mass displacement which we see as acts of aggression," the tribes of Hauran said in a statement.

"This is not a suitable way to deal with citizens."

The Observatory said several civilians had been injured in attacks by regime forces and the 4th Division -- led by the president's brother, Brig. Gen. Maher al-Assad -- stationed at checkpoints on the outskirts of Daraa al-Balad.

Regime forces fired heavy machine guns and dozens of artillery shells onto residential neighbourhoods in the area, it said, adding that regime forces also fired nearly 20 shells at the town of Nahteh in rural Daraa.

Regime forces have erected earthen berms and blocked the only way out for civilians attempting to flee from parts of Daraa city, the Observatory said.