Thread by @snarwani

Just finished a whirlwind trip to all of #Syria’s southern provinces whose fates depend on the battles/negotiations in the days and weeks ahead. Here’s a view of Israeli-occupied Majd al Shams on the Syrian Golan.

Abu Abdo, the father of Druze martyr Abdo Tawil, stands in front of a “martyr tree” in Hadar, Quneitra. To a man, the Druze of Hadar tell me that Israeli firepower provides cover for the Islamist militants every time they try to storm this defiant town. #Syria

A mere few kilometers from #Syria’s border with #Jordan, Daraa civilians shopping for their Iftar meal told me they want the Naseeb border crossing btwn the 2 states opened asap, are fed-up with the war, and are pressing militants to reconcile & stop the battle for the south.

The temp grave of legendary SAA Gen. Issam Zahreddine lies at Suweida’s entrance. A public square is being built in his memory. A Druze hero, Zahreddine was killed by a land mine in 2017; his son Yaaroub tells me “he died after ending his mission to liberate Deirezzor from ISIS.”

Israel’s support of Islamist militants in #Syria’s conflict appears to have enraged the Druze community. In the village of al-Hit in Suweida, I was told people often have photos of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in their homes. Here’s one, in the home of a 69 yr old retiree:

As the battle for #Syria’s southern borders heats up, an important point: There are currently 54 militant groups in this front, funded entirely by foreign states. In ALL strategic areas, Nusra (Al Qaeda) is either present - or has military allies from recent battles on the scene.