According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 12 people were killed in clashes between rival groups today in the southern Syrian province of Daraa. This happens one day after a group of children lost their lives in an explosion in the same region, reported AFP and BTA.
Darra province became the focus of the 2011 uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, but in 2018 returned to Damascus' control. Since then, the province has been rocked by killings and clashes amid harsh living conditions, according to AFP.
According to the NGO, a man identified as Ahmad al-Labad, who "leads an armed group", has been accused by a rival group of planting the explosive device that went off yesterday in the town of Sanamain, killing eight children.
p>
According to the UK-based organization, which has a wide network of sources in Syria, Ahmad al-Labad, who previously worked for state security services, denies the allegations.
According to the center, the rival group, led by a man who "formerly belonged to the "Islamic State" group and now works for the military intelligence services" of the government in Damascus, stormed a part of the city of Sanamain today and clashed with Ahmad al-Labad's group.
12 people died in the clashes, including three members of the Labad family, one civilian killed by a stray bullet, and eight fighters, the same source said, adding that the clashes continued this afternoon.
Syrian state media have so far not reported on the clashes and the victims, according to AFP.