| Southern Syria offensive (2024) | |||||||||
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| Part of the2024 Syrian opposition offensive and theDaraa Governorate campaign during theSyrian civil war | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Syrian Government  | |||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
 Ahmad al-Awda (after 6 December) |  Brig. Gen.Louay al-Ali[6]Ahmad al-Awda (until 6 December) | ||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
 Local armed group commander killed, and another wounded[11] | 2 SAF first lieutenants killed 2 service members wounded[12][13] | ||||||||
| 10 civilians killed (8 by Syrian Arab Army shelling)[14][4] | |||||||||
Beginning on 29 November 2024, southernSyrian opposition groups began assaults onDaraa Governorate andAs-Suwayda Governorate in SouthernSyria, along the nation's border withJordan. The offensive was publicly announced as an effort by theSouthern Operations Room coordinated with theNorthwestern Syria offensive to implement a multi-frontadvance towardDamascus. TheSyrian Armed Forces withdrew from their positions around the city ofDaraa to reinforceDamascus but offered no resistance there, and southern opposition groupstook Damascus in the early hours of 8 December, shortly before the arrival of northern opposition groups later that day.
Since July 2018, Daraa had officially been under government control following aRussian-mediated settlement agreement. However, complete government authority in the region remained contested, particularly inDaraa al-Balad and western rural areas, where the2021 Daraa offensive had taken place.[15]
Following the onset of theNorthwestern Syria offensive, Syrian rebel forces in the south of the nation released a public announcement attributed to the "Revolutionaries and Free Men of the Eastern Region ofHauran", declaring plans to coordinate military activities with northern opposition groups. The rebel groups intended to implement apincer movement plan, specifically targeting Damascus with simultaneous pressure from both northern and southern opposition forces. The southern opposition movement, centered in Daraa province, established a coordinated military framework involving multiple factions. Local media outlet Daraa 24 reported plans for targeted operations against government military installations and checkpoints in the region.[9]
Beginning on 29 November 2024, rebel groups commenced operations againstSyrian government installations across the southern region, with particular focus on the Daraa and As-Suwayda governorates. These activities primarily targeted government security infrastructure, including military checkpoints and security apparatus positions.[16][17] InInkhil, north of Daraa, opposition forces besieged the State Security Center. Concurrent activity included a rocket attack targeting the Air Force Intelligence facility inSuwayda.[9]
According to theSyrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), unidentified combatants fired upon loyalistSyrian Armed Forces (SAF) military personnel near Om Shama Town in the eastern region of Suwayda Governorate, resulting in the death of an SAF first lieutenant from Tartus and the wounding of two additional service members.[12] On 30 November, another SAF first lieutenant and three Bedouin tribe members were shot to death by opposing combatants, according to SOHR.[13] SOHR also said a local armed group commander was killed by gunfire inTafas in western Daraa, while another was wounded.[11]
On 30 November 2024, the Syrian Armed Forces implemented a significant military deployment to Daraa, a strategic city in southern Syria. Military leadership confirmed the deployment as part of ongoing national security operations, specifically aimed at addressing concerns related to militant organizations operating within southern Syrian territories. The General Command of the Syrian Armed Forces issued a formal statement regarding the operation, and announced that the armed forces were executing counter-responses to combat "terrorist entities" in the region.[18]
On 6 December 2024, several towns in Daraa Governorate, includingInkhil, al-Jbailiya,[19]Ghabagheb,al-Jiza,al-Ghariyah al-Sharqiyah,Buser al-Harir,Jasim,Namir, and Simlin, along with theNasib Border Crossing, came under the control of local forces.[20] Furthermore, more cities, includingBusra al-Harir,Nawa,Mahajjah, as well as the entire Jordanian border region, fell completely under rebel control.[21]
Rebels claimed to have taken control of Brigade 52, the second-largest government military base in Daraa province, after exchanging fire with regime forces in the base and the nearby town ofal-Hirak.[22] By the end of the day, rebels managed to entirely secure the city of Daraa in addition toIzra for the first time since the start of the civil war.[23]
InSuwayda, protesters managed to fully control the city by securing security and military sites, including the central prison, headquarters of the Baath Party branch, police headquarters, and many military checkpoints.[24][25] That same day, four civilians were killed in separate incidents.[14]
By the beginning of 7 December, rebels had captured 90% ofDaraa Governorate, with the exception ofSanamayn, and granted safe passage to pro-government forces towardsDamascus.[26] Later that morning, rebels also seizedQuneitra Governorate after pro-government forces withdrew towards Damascus.[5] That day, the Israeli army helped theUNDOF repel an attack.[27]
A HTS commander stated his forces were less than 20 kilometers away from the southern gate of Damascus after capturing Al-Sanamayn. Syrian state media reported ballistic missile launches from Damascus towards Daraa.[28][29]
On 7 December 2024, six civilians were killed by SAA shelling in Daraa.[4]
In the wake of thefall of Damascus on 8 December, theIsrael Defense Forces (IDF) created abuffer zone with additional military presence in the Golan Heights, for the first time since 1974.[30] The IDF took positions on the Syrian side ofMount Hermon as well.[31]
On 11 December, HTS leaderAhmed al-Sharaa met with rebels who took part in the Southern Syria offensive.[32]
Jordan closed theNasib Border Crossing in response to the military escalation in southern Syria.[33]
Israel reinforced Division 201 and deployed additional troops to the Golan Heights.[34]
