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Defector Colonel Killed in Gunfire Incident in Southern Syria
A defector colonel from the Syrian regime forces was killed on Monday due to gunfire from unknown assailants in the northern countryside of Daraa, amidst the escalating security chaos in the province.
Local sources reported that unidentified individuals shot directly at defector Colonel Mahmoud Munukh al-Hawshan in the town of al-Quneitra, resulting in his immediate death.
Al-Hawshan hailed from the town of Mahja and was the father of Saqr al-Hawshan, a local leader who heads a group in the area, as noted by the "Ahrar Houran Gathering."
According to the "Southern Media Network," the "popular committees" affiliated with the Military Security Branch removed al-Hawshan from a public transport bus in al-Quneitra and then shot him directly.
Daraa province has repeatedly witnessed targeted assassinations and killings aimed at both military and civilian individuals, with an increase in such incidents following the "settlement" agreement brokered by Russia in mid-2018.
Last week, the province experienced a significant escalation in violence and security breakdown, with scattered attacks resulting in the deaths of 23 people and injuries to several others.
In the previous week alone, six individuals were reported killed and 17 others injured due to various incidents involving gunfire and explosions, according to "Daraa 24."
Among these incidents, a member of the "Eighth Brigade" was killed near the city of Inkhel as a result of a bomb explosion, while a civilian was shot dead in the city of al-Sanamin.
In the town of Nahte in the eastern countryside, an individual was killed on his farm by armed assailants in front of his family, while another soldier lost his life due to an explosion near Busra al-Harir.
In the western countryside, clashes in the city of Tafas resulted in one death, while gunfire incidents were reported in the area between the towns of Atman and Dael.
In the same context, the network reported that 17 individuals were injured during this period, including eight members who were targeted when a joint patrol was hit by an explosive device between the towns of al-Karak and al-Ghariya in eastern Daraa.
