Eighth Brigade News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Escalating clashes in the cradle of the Syrian uprising challenge Assad’s hold on the region.

Since early last year there has been a surge in drug-related assassinations in Syria’s southwestern Daraa Province, adding a new layer to the region’s persistent violence. The regime's complicity, driven by financial and political motives, has fostered a climate where drug networks operate with impunity, spurring locals to take matters into their own hands.

Since early last year there has been a surge in drug-related assassinations in Syria’s southwestern Daraa Province, adding a new layer to the region’s persistent violence. The regime's complicity, driven by financial and political motives, has fostered a climate where drug networks operate with impunity, spurring locals to take matters into their own hands.

Smuggling networks in southern Syria have developed new tactics for their cross-border operations towards Jordan. No longer content with attempting to smuggle drugs and weapons alone, these networks have escalated to engaging in fierce clashes with Jordanian border guard forces. The clashes are seen as an attempt by the networks to forcefully impose trafficking operations.

The Eighth Brigade of the Russian-backed Fifth Corps has reportedly killed two people in Daraa Governorate, in southern Syria, the Ahrar Houran Gathering said. The group of journalists and activists...