FILE IMAGE: Sputnik/ Iliya Pitalev.
Early on January 23, a force from the Syrian Air Force Intelligence Directorate (AFID) carried out a series of raids in the towns of Mlaiha al-Garbiah and Hrak in the eastern countryside of Daraa.
In Mlaiha al-Garbiah, five suspects were arrested by AFID officers. A sixth suspected was apprehended in Hrak. However, he was released a few hours later.
The arrests were linked to an attack that targeted a checkpoint and a base of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) near the town of Mlaiha al-Garbiah late on January 22.
The attack coincided with several strikes that hit Mlaiha al-Garbiah and Hrak, wounding at least ten people. Syrian opposition activists said that the SAA shelled the two towns with mortars and artillery. However, this is yet to be confirmed.
Over the past week, several attacks targeted Syrian government forces and local government supporters in Daraa. No group has claimed responsibility for any of the attacks, yet. Still, ISIS remains the main suspect.
The AFID’s raids in Mlaiha al-Garbiah and Hrak indicate that government forces are finally planning to take action to secure and stabilize Daraa.