Imad Abu Zriq
Imad Abu Zriq, a prominent commander of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), has returned from Jordan to the southern Syrian governorate of Daraa and joined the reconciliation process, Syrian opposition activists revealed on January 15.
Abu Zriq led the US-backed Revolution Army for about two years, during which he barely participated in any attack on the Syrian Arab Army (SAA). Last year, when the SAA launched its final attack on the opposition’s positions in southern Syria, Zriq made several threats and vowed to fight until death. However, he run away to Jordan when the army began the real advance on the ground.
According to the activists, Zriq return is a part of a Russian-Jordanian plan to pressure former FSA commanders into joining the reconciliation process. The plan is aimed at using the influence of these local commanders to establish new pro-government forces under the command of the Russian-backed 5th Corps.
The upcoming weeks will witness the return of more FSA commanders to southern Syria. This will likely lead to more stability in the newly-liberated region.
