Jul 22, 2013

Commanders in the Free Syrian Army (FSA) confirmed to Al-Hayat that their forces have rapidly advanced in Syria’s south since the beginning of Ramadan due to an increased supply in weapons through Jordan. The commanders, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that some of the weapons arriving through the illegal border crossing with Jordan “are provided by two Gulf countries (which they did not specify). Yet others are arriving via Jordanian smugglers who receive exorbitant wages from the FSA for buying and smuggling them.”

The military commanders, who spoke to Al-Hayat on Skype, pointed out that the weapons coming through Jordan’s villages and towns “do not represent active support, given that the quantity continues to be below the required level.” Regarding the US promise to arm the opposition, they said that this commitment has yet to be fulfilled.

The Jordanian government explicitly denies that its border with Syria is open to the flow of weapons, given that admitting this step would put Jordan in an open confrontation with the Syrian regime.

Bashar al-Zoabi, commander of the southern front for the FSA’s Yarmouk Brigade, told Al-Hayat in a phone conversation on July 21 that the Syrian opposition forces “are rapidly moving forward into many of Syria’s southern cities and towns. They now control nearly 60% of these areas, in which large numbers of forces from the regime army are deployed.”

He added, “We are currently advancing in the city of Nawa, where a large number of troops from the regime army are stationed. We disrupted the movement of these troops through our counter-attacks, achieving big wins, and took the lead with the beginning of Ramadan.” He continued, “We are currently controlling the cities of Jasim, Inkhil, Nassib, al-Tayba, al-Naemeh and Saheem, as well as al-Karak and Daraa. The day before yesterday [July 20], we successfully blocked the old international road in the city of Daraa once again, where a fierce war is taking place between us and the forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.”