The resistance factions in southern Syria are returning

Why are Jordan and Turkey concerned about this military development?

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, and Israel Katz, his Minister of War, taking photos atop the occupied Syrian Golan Heights while wearing military uniforms and bulletproof vests not only confirms that the Israeli occupation state controls southern Syria, but also indicates the presence of national Islamic resistance groups against the occupation, whose attacks on the occupation forces have intensified, posing a significant threat and a chronic hea

Interestingly, the “new” Syrian authorities in Damascus have begun to recognise the gravity of the situation in Syria, but not in terms of military infiltration and Judaisation of the region; rather, they are focusing on combating the Hauran resistance groups, which are growing in size and organisation and are concentrating their efforts on resisting the Israeli occupation.

The statement made today by the new Syrian army verifies what we are reporting, acknowledging the deaths of three of its personnel in a confrontation with an armed group in Daraa’s countryside. This confrontation occurred as Syrian assault troops attempted to apprehend one of the wanted men in the city of al-Sanamayn, whom they said headed an Islamic State cell.

It is almost certain that this raid by the Syrian army and official security forces was in response to Israeli and security pressures on Damascus’ ruling regime to engage in military confrontations with the armed national Islamic groups that have been rapidly expanding in occupied southern Syria. Israel wants the new army to demonstrate its sincere commitment to fighting and eradicating this national resistance as the only and quickest means to attain the promised security accord between the Israeli and official Syrian sides, which the United States sponsors.

There may be elements affiliated with the Islamic State in southern Syria, as in other parts of Syria. Still, the majority of the resistance factions active there, if not all, are Arab Islamic national factions with no connection to the Islamic State (ISIS), even though some fly the flag of the Syrian army, which was dissolved and whose leadership was mostly arrested or killed after the regime change.

After reviewing field media investigations, it can be concluded that all resistance groups in southern Syria, and possibly in its eastern and northern regions, are Islamic resistance organisations with close ties to the resistance in southern Lebanon (Hezbollah) and occupied Palestine (Hamas and Islamic Jihad). They may be summarised as follows:

• First, in early 2025, the group “Awli al-Ba’s”, led by “Abu Mujahid”, announced joint operations with entities affiliated with the “Syrian Popular Resistance” to oppose the new transitional government’s security arrangements and resist Israeli and Turkish occupations.
• Second, “Saraya Al-Thabat” is a recently founded armed group that calls itself “Islamic Resistance in Syria”, and it has claimed responsibility for missile assaults on Israeli forces in the occupied Golan Heights and Mount Hermon.
  Third, the “Ahrar Horan” organisation, which is centred primarily in southern Daraa, proclaimed the launch of “jihadist” activities against the occupation forces.

All of these organisations share three key features: they oppose the Israeli occupation, they are hostile to the new Syrian regime, and they have the support of Turkey. The majority of the weapons they use come from the dissolved Syrian army’s depots, which are stocked with missiles and other military equipment. According to a leaked statement, their contents were emptied and moved to other covert underground storage facilities.

The Israeli occupation state has erected four sites in the occupied southern Syrian territory, and it intends to occupy Daraa Governorate totally before moving on to Deir ez-Zor to implement the David Corridor. According to one of their sources, a rising number and armament of opposition organisations are watching Israeli plans and trying to oppose them and clear up the Syrian area.

These opposition factions are a source of concern not only for the occupying state and Syrian leadership but also for Jordan’s army and security forces, which have worked with their counterparts in Damascus to battle and remove them. The Syrian and Jordanian areas share a border, and both sides are reportedly boosting military collaboration.

In summary, if it hasn’t already, southern Syria could become a cross-border version of southern Lebanon. It is almost certain that “Hezbollah” is supplying Syrian Islamic rebel groups with weapons, military equipment, and possibly training. The party’s officials do not deny these allegations, and Israel’s occupation of the slopes of Mount Sheikh Quneitra was intended to cut off the land connection between Lebanon and Syria.

Southern Syria is rapidly transforming into a new base for resisting the Israeli occupation, with one key difference: the vast majority of the personnel involved in the resistance factions are former Syrian regime soldiers and officers, and they do not require military training, weapons, missiles, or ammunition, which are abundantly available in new underground secret warehouses, according to sources close to them. The inhabitants of Hauran are among the most honourable, Arab, and courageous folk, and they may face surprises in the days ahead.

https://www.raialyoum.com/the-resistance-factions-in-southern-syria-are-returning/