UAE-linked southern Syria militia to be dissolved after Sharaa-MbZ meeting

Damascus, Syria - A key UAE-linked militia in southern Syria will be dissolved, a spokesperson for the group said on Sunday, one of the last armed groups in the country to integrate into the army.

The Eighth Brigade is one of the dominant armed factions in the southern Syrian province of Daraa, clashing with government forces in recent days.

Headed by controversial militia leader Ahmed Al-Awda, the group is considered to be close to the UAE and Jordan, and did not take part in a meeting on 25 December between rebel groups and the government when the armed factions agreed to come under the control of the defence ministry.

On Sunday, the Eighth Brigade spokesperson Col. Mohamed Al-Hourani announced the group would disband and finally come under government control.

"We, members, soldiers, and officers of what was previously known as the Eighth Brigade, officially announce the dissolution of the formation and hand over its military and human capacities to the defence ministry," he said in a video address. 

"This decision stems from our commitment to national unity, enhancing security and stability and adherence to state sovereignty."

Syrians hope the agreement will stabilise the security situation in Daraa, which has been hit by criminality and tensions between rival armed factions in recent years, and might neutralise a potential threat to the government from the south.

Yet there are also fears the decision could provoke resentment among factions not keen on coming under state control, sparking further internal conflicts in Daraa province, Deiaa Sehnawee, Syria correspondent for Al-Araby Al-Jaddeed, told The New Arab.

"The situation could calm the situation in Daraa, especially in areas previously controlled by the Eighth Brigade, potentially reducing clashes and arrests," he said.

"However, the agreement does not address the root cause of the problem, such as the proliferation of weapons outside state control or tribal conflicts, which could lead to future setbacks in security."

Syrian Defence Minister Mohammed Al-Qadri had held talks with leaders of the Eighth Brigade in the days leading up to the agreement in Daraa city's Bosra Al-Sham, according to Syria TV.

A high-level Syrian delegation headed to Abu Dhabi on Sunday in President Ahmed Al-Sharaa’s first official visit to the UAE since taking office in December, coinciding with talks on the disbandment of the Eighth Brigade.

In Abu Dhabi, Sharaa met UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan about the future of Syria, the Gulf state believed to have strong ties with the Awda’s Eighth Brigade.

The UAE has strongly opposed Islamist movements, such as Sharaa’s, since the start of the Arab Spring and appeared less welcoming than its Gulf neighbours to the overthrow of the Assad regime in a Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham-led offensive.

Due to this, there were fears in Syria that the Gulf state might play a destabilising role in southern Syria, particularly given Abu Dhabi’s antipathy toward Syrian rebels during the war.

In Daraa province this week, a former Free Syrian Army commander, Bilal al-Droubi, who supported the new government, was targeted by suspected members of Awda’s Eighth Brigade on Thursday, dying from his wounds a few days later.

Clashes were reported between the government's General Security Forces and the Eighth Brigade. It was agreed that the suspected killers of Droubi would be handed over to the state.

These recent clashes could have prompted Awda to finally reach an agreement with the government after four months of resisting, with the security and economic situation in Daraa worsening due to the instability.

"The factors that prompted Ahmed Al-Awdha into the agreement were numerous, including military pressure and the escalation of government security operations in Daraa," said Sehnawee.

"Furthermore, the economic situation, deteriorating living standards and declining local support also likely pushed him to accept a negotiated settlement."

Awda also likely received assurances from his undeclared foreign backers - such as the UAE, Jordan or Russia - that guaranteed his safety and interests in the south following a series of military setbacks and loss of tribal support in the past months, Sehnawee added.

Despite this, the government’s control of the south is far from being secured, and the security situation in Daraa is still unstable.

"Ultimately, the agreement offers a fragile opportunity to calm the situation, but this is not a radical solution," he said.

"Its success depends on the parties' commitment to implementing its provisions and the government’s ability to address local grievances without exclusion."

Clashes were reported between the government's General Security Forces and the Eighth Brigade. It was agreed that the suspected killers of Droubi would be handed over to the state.

The UAE is believed to have played a key role in Syria’s return to the Arab League and attempts to rehabilitate Bashar Al-Assad's image on a global stage, despite the regime leader being widely accused of war crimes and human rights abuses.

Following the meeting with Sharaa, MbZ said the UAE will support Syria "in a way that meets the aspirations of its people for a future of security, stability and prosperity".

The Eighth Brigade was part of the FSA’s Southern Front before a regime offensive in 2018 saw Daraa province come back under Assad's control.

While many rebel groups in the south chose exile in the opposition-held province of Idlib, Awda and his militia remained in Daraa after reaching an agreement with the regime to surrender their heavy weapons and integrate into the Russian-backed Fifth Corps.

Awda has been described as "Moscow's man in the south" due to his unit's close relations with the Russian military.

When the HTS offensive on Damascus began to build pace in December, Awda switched sides again, with the newly formed Southern Operations Room, headed by the commander, taking parts of the Syrian capital from the south.