Clashes intensify in Syria’s Daraa as rebels launch 3rd phase of offensive

A huge explosion rocked the government-held parts of Al-Manshiyah districts in the southern province of Daraa as Islamist rebels detonated a remote-controlled VBIED, according to rebel sources.

Intense clashes followed the blast with the hardline fighters attempting to advance in the contested neighborhood.  However, no progress has yet been reported.

In the same contest, a source from the Syrian Army confirmed that government troops prematurely blew up the vehicle before ‘reaching its target, causing material damage to already empty residential blocks, and killing the suicide bomber”.

Meanwhile in the southwestern countryside of Daraa, rebel forces lost 5 sites after being overrun by the Islamic State jihadists in an overnight blitz.