- At least 17 people were killed in clashes on Sunday in Syria's Southern Daraa province following an explosion that killed a group of children, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Al Jazeera (LR: 2 CP: 1)
- The dead reportedly include three family members of Ahmad al-Labbad, the alleged leader of an armed group formerly working for a state security service, 12 of his fighters, a former Islamic State (IS) group member, and a civilian. Middle East Eye
- The incident occurred after a rival group accused Al-Labbad of planting an explosive device in the city of Al-Sanamayn in the restive Daraa province on Saturday, killing eight children, according to the UK-based war monitor. Voice of America
- Despite Al-Labbad denying involvement, fighting erupted when the rival group, led by a former member of IS now "affiliated with military intelligence," entered the city, the non-governmental organization said. arabnews.com
- Daraa is known for its role in the 2011 uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. In 2018, it was recaptured by Russian-backed government forces and their allies, resulting in a Moscow-mediated reconciliation deal. Guardian (LR: 2 CP: 5)
- Despite efforts to broker a ceasefire leaving certain rebel groups in charge of security in some areas, the province remains a conflict hotspot. Since January, over 100 people have reportedly been killed in violent attacks. The Media Line
Pro-establishment narrative:
- Waging war against his own people for 13 years, Syrian dictator Assad is ultimately responsible for the latest killings in Daraa. Clashes have been escalating again for months, as the regime feels reinforced since the Arab League welcomed Assad back into the fold. Added to this is Russia, further undermining the UN- and Western-led efforts for change in Damascus. Until pressure on the Assad regime is ramped up again, the killing and humanitarian catastrophe in Syria will continue.
VOICE OF AMERICA
Establishment-critical narrative:
- The latest casualties are a reminder that war is still raging in Syria, for which foreign powers are primarily responsible. Since 2011, certain countries have sought to advance their geopolitical interests by destabilizing the country, but the ultimate goal of regime change failed. Syrians are demanding their country's full sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, including the withdrawal of US occupation forces. Until then, the fight for freedom and against terror will continue.
PRESSTV
Nerd narrative:
- There is a 45% chance that 3 mainstream American news outlets will report that a rebel group perpetrated the 2013 Ghouta Chemical Attack before Aug. 21, 2033, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)