The Iranian-backed Hezbollah guerrilla organization has executed 23 Syrian soldiers who refused to deploy to fight in the south of the country, according to a report by NZIV on the Hebrew-language Rotter website.
Informed sources told the Syrian-Orient television network that a senior Hezbollah field officer — Major Wassim Hourur — executed 23 soldiers from the 9th Armored Division in the Zanamin area after refusing his order to board the vehicles and leave for assembly areas in the Dara’a region.
On Tuesday the militias fighting alongside the Syrian army closed all roads leading from Damascus to Dara’a and nearby villages.
Only students and government officials were allowed access. All crossings to the Swayda district were closed as well.
Meanwhile, local battles are taking place between the militias and the rebel forces in areas north of Dara’a and especially in the area of Hirbet al-Razala.
Rebels in the area announced that last night they attacked a Syrian military convoy trying to reach the outskirts of the city of Dara’a, causing heavy casualties and forcing the convoy to turn back and return to the town of Izra, where the headquarters of Division 5, Iranian headquarters and Hezbollah are located.
In Quneitra province, mortar shells were fired at Hezbollah positions in the town of I’ma in Quneitra.
The Syrian army continues to send huge reinforcements to southern Syria, Dara’a, Sweida and the western district of Dara’a, mainly to intimidate the rebels and force them to reach a peaceful settlement.