On June 30, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) 4th Armoured Division, backed by the Russian Aerospace Forces, launched a large attack on the positions of the US-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) in the key district of al-Manishiyah in the city of Daraa. The FSA manged to capture most of the district after a successful attack back in 2017.
A source in the 4th Division told SouthFront that the SAA has captured a large area in al-Manishiyah so far. According to the source, the SAA is facing very little resistance from the remaining fighters of the FSA inside the city.
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A day earlier, the 4th Armoured Division captured the hill of Zumaytiyah, thus imposed its fire control of the FSA’s main supply route between the western and eastern countrysides of Daraa.
From it side, the FSA operations room in southern Syria known as “Tawhid al-Sufuf” reported that FSA fighters destroyed two battle tanks of the SAA with TOW anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) during clashes west of the city of Daraa. The joint operation room also announced that a soldier of the SAA was captured.
The SAA will likely step up its military operations around and inside the city of Daraa once the eastern Daraa countryside is secured. Elite units, including the Tiger Forces, will join the battle there, which will increase the pressure on the FSA.
