Jordan fears collapse of de-escalation zone in southwest Syria
Jordan seems worried the fighting in Syria’s eastern Ghouta could hit near its borders amid claims of strikes by Syrian jets against rebel-held areas in Daraa.
Jordan is keeping a close eye on the situation in Syria’s eastern Ghouta amid growing fears that the Syrian regime’s next move will be against the southern province of Daraa along the kingdom’s borders. On March 6, Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi called for an immediate cease-fire in eastern Ghouta and an end to the suffering of the Syrian people.
The UN Security Council has failed to implement a resolution adopted Feb. 24 to impose a truce throughout Syria. On March 12, the United States submitted a new draft resolution to council members calling for an immediate 30-day cease-fire in the capital of Damascus and the suburbs of eastern Ghouta.
Most of southwest Syria is part of a de-escalation zone agreed to in July by the United States, Russia and Jordan. The province, along with the city of Daraa, is divided between regime forces and rebel groups — the latter controlling the Nasib border crossing with Jordan.
On March 12, residents and rebel groups claimed that Syrian jets carried out at least eight strikes against rebel-held areas in Daraa, not far from the town of Izraa, where the Syrian army maintains a considerable presence. If confirmed, the strikes would be the first to take place since the multilateral truce was adopted.
