Assads Fahne weht wieder in Daraa
Forces loyal to the regime of the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, have entered rebel-controlled parts of Daraa, the birthplace of protests that led to the country’s civil and proxy war, in a symbolic victory that illustrates the turning tides of the conflict.
Syrian state media said Assad’s forces hoisted their flag for the first time in years in the rebel-controlled parts of the city after a surrender deal was agreed with local rebels, which included a planned handover of weapons and the exile of opposition fighters and activists.
“Units of the Syrian Arab army entered the district of Daraa al-Balad and raised the national flag in the main square … a declaration that Daraa is now clear of terrorism,” said the state news agency Sana, referring to the opposition groups as terrorists.
Protests in Daraa in March 2011 against the incarceration and torture of teenagers who had scrawled anti-government graffiti on their school wall, sparked a nationwide outcry against the Assad family. A violent crackdown on protesters would later lead to an armed uprising.