{"id":67098,"date":"2018-05-27T16:58:38","date_gmt":"2018-05-27T16:58:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/05\/27\/us-warns-syrian-government-not-to-advance-on-south\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T12:02:53","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T12:02:53","slug":"us-warns-syrian-government-not-to-advance-on-south","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/05\/27\/us-warns-syrian-government-not-to-advance-on-south\/","title":{"rendered":"US warns Syrian government not to advance on south"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BEIRUT \u2014 The United States warned it would take \u201cfirm and appropriate measures\u201d to protect a cease-fire in southern Syria if President Bashar Assad\u2019s forces move against rebels there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The area in southwestern Syria, between the border city of Daraa and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, has emerged as a flashpoint in a wider standoff between regional archrivals Israel and Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S., Russia, and Jordan agreed last year to include Daraa in a \u201cde-escalation zone<\/a>\u201d to freeze the lines of conflict. But government forces have recently dropped leaflets on rebel-held areas warning of an imminent offensive and urging fighters to lay down their arms, Syrian state media said Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a statement released Friday, the U.S. State Department said it was concerned by reports that Assad\u2019s forces were preparing for an operation in southwestern Syria. It warned the government against \u201cany actions that risk broadening the conflict.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t