Thousands flee southern Syria, say activists

BEIRUT: About 12 500 people have been displaced from their homes in the southern Syrian province of Daraa in the past 48 hours before an expected battle between government forces and their allies against opposition fighters in the area.

The people who fled were from the eastern and north-eastern parts of Daraa, which witnessed heavy shelling and battles between government troops and opposition fighters, said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The displaced had moved to other parts of the province, he added.

The watchdog said that six militia members were killed. Eight civilians were also killed in the east and north-eastern parts of Daraa in artillery shelling in last 48 hours.

An activist in Daraa’s Bosr al-Hariri area said many women, children and elderly people had left the area in the past two days.

A rebel commander in Daraa, who goes by the name of Abu Abed al-Joulani, said that “the battle will not be an easy ride” for the government troops.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has vowed to take over all opposition-held areas near the frontiers with Jordan and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

Late week, US-led coalition planes raided Syrian regime posts in southeast Palmyra, killing and wounding at least 8 troops, the observatory said. – DPA/African News Agency (ANA)