Syrian Rebels Claim To Control Main Military Bases In Daraa

JAKARTA - Rebels in southern Syria claim to have taken control of the government's main military base in Daraa province, just hours after launching a new attack on Friday.

Video obtained by CNN showed rebel fighters fighting each other with regime forces near al-Hirak, the town near Brigade 52, the province's second-largest military base.

In a statement, the newly formed South Space Operations group representing the southern rebels said its fighters managed to free Brigade 52 in eastern Daraa after fighting with regime forces stationed there.

Brigade 52 is accused of involvement in the shooting of civilians in the city of Daraa between 2012 and 2015, when civil war in Syria was the fiercest.

Syrian insurgent groups say their current goal is to reach Damascus. In its movement, the rebels have seized a number of cities from Aleppo, Hama/Hamat, Talbiseh and Al-Rastan.

Reported by CNN, Syrian rebels called on government forces to defect from the Assad regime's criminal gangs and join the rebels.

Our goal is Damascus, and our meeting point is the Bani Umayyah public field, the group said Friday, December 6.

The group said it had seized several government posts along the Jordan-Syria border.

Our troops are now securing the border route after regime forces stationed there surrendered, he added.