South Front
Click to see full-size image. Via Twitter.
On July 12, two large explosions rocked the town of Tafas in the western countryside of Daraa, where several cells of ISIS are reportedly taking shelter.
The explosions destroyed the house and the headquarters of former rebel leader and ISIS facilitator Khaldoun Badawi al-Zoubi. Activists in Tafas claimed that the two buildings were blown up by Syrian military engineers. However, this is yet to be confirmed.
The explosions came amid high tensions in Tafas. Government forces launched an operation against cells affiliated with ISIS on July 3. The operation was put on halt on July 6 at the request of a local tribe who offered to solve the issue without bloodshed. However, the militants taking shelter in the town are yet to surrender or leave.
Al-Zoubi, who reportedly sheltered and provided support for ISIS cells in Tafas, was assassinated last August. The leader’s motorcade was ambushed by a group of unidentified gunmen, who killed him along with four of his militants. The Syrian intelligence was blamed for the assassination, back then.
Despite several recent counter-terrorism operations by government forces, the security situation in Daraa is remains bad. Earlier this week, at least six Syrian service members were killed or wounded in three separate attacks in the countryside of the governorate.
MORE ON THIS TOPIC:
