Rebels Take Key Southern Base in Syria, Dealing Blow to Assad

A coalition of moderate rebel factions known as the Southern Front captured the Brigade 52 military base on Tuesday afternoon. Brigade 52 is the largest military installation in Daraa province, which borders Jordan, and is key to the defense of northern routes leading to Damascus. (The Washington Post, 9 June)

The loss of the base adds to a string of recent battlefield defeats for Assad’s regime. An Islamist coalition led by al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra has seized northwestern Idlib province. The Islamic State insurgents the ancient city of Palmyra and territory from government forces in the east in addition to territories held by other opposition forces. The regime has so far weathered the widening civil war because of military and financial support from Iran and Russia, but appears to be at its weakest point in the four-year-old conflict.

Today’s capture of Brigade 52 was a major victory for the moderate Southern Front. In April, it also captured the last border crossing between Syria and Jordan that was held by the Assad government. The umbrella group operates a military operations center in Amman and receives financial and military support from the Arab countries and backing from the West, the Post said.

Image credit: Southern Front logo: the Syrian independence flag flanked by an AK-47 on each side and the Arabic inscription, Al-Jabhat al-Jonubiya (Southern Front). Wikipedia.