Syrian regime troops enter Daraa Al-Balad as deal implemented

Syrian regime troops on Wednesday began to set up checkpoints in an area of southwestern Syria where a deal between Damascus and local rebels is currently being implemented.

Daraa Al-Balad was placed under a regime siege months ago, following residents' refusal to accept the country's sham presidential election, which again returned dictator Bashar Al-Assad to power.

The regime also raised its flag above the centre where it is settling the statuses of members of the local opposition in Daraa Al-Balad, The New Arab's Arabic-language sister service, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported.

Checkpoints are being set up at the local Baath Party headquarters among other locations, the Horan Free League media group said.

Regime troops moved into Daraa Al-Balad on foot, activist Mohammed Al-Hourani told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

The move effectively ends opposition semi-autonomy in the neighbourhood since rebels surrendered to the regime in 2018 following a Russian-brokered truce.

He added that the deal specifies there will be nine checkpoints jointly operated with the Russia-aligned Eighth Brigade, which was created in Daraa province.

On Wednesday morning, with Moscow monitoring events, regime soldiers went into the area to ready for the arrival of other troops, locate suitable sites for checkpoints, and check locals' identities.

It was not immediately clear if these were the same soldiers Al-Hourani mentioned.

There was also no indication that the siege on the neighbourhood had been lifted.