Ahmad al-Awda

Ahmad al-Awda , also spelled as Ahmad al-Oda, is a Syrian military officer and former rebel leader who leads the Southern Operations Room. A leader of the rebel Youth of Sunna Forces between 2014 and 2018, al-Awda reconciled with the Assad regime following the 2018 Southern Syria offensive. With the backing of Russia, al-Awda was appointed the commander of the 8th Brigade of the Syrian Army's 5th Corps, a formation primarily consisting of reconciled rebels. He became an influential powerbroker in Daraa Governorate, taking orders from Russia rather than the authorities in Damascus, and became known as "Russia's man in Southern Syria". He re-affiliated with Syrian Military Intelligence in 2021.

As the Syrian Army took heavy losses amid the 2024 Syrian opposition offensives, al-Awda and his forces defected back to the Syrian opposition to form the Southern Operations Room, which spearheaded the Fall of Damascus and toppled the Assad regime.

Biography

Early life Ahmad al-Awda was born in 1981 in the town of Bosra to a Sunni Muslim family. He allied with the al-Nusra Front and Islamic Muthanna Movement to successfully capture his hometown of Bosra from government forces, then expelled the groups from the town. Some local residents viewed the agreement as treasonous.

Syrian Army (2018–2024) Receiving a Russian guarantee from government retribution, al-Awda was granted command of the local branch of the Syrian Army's 5th Corps, the 8th Brigade, joining alongside other ex-rebels. The arrangement allowed Russia to secure the eastern half of Daraa Governorate, police the region with forces that maintained a level of public legitimacy and undermine Iranian influence. Under Russian orders, the 8th Brigade fought near Salma and in the Syrian Desert.

As the Daraa insurgency escalated, al-Awda's 8th Brigade mediated between loyalist troops and insurgents, working with Russia to end clashes and arrange new reconciliation and deportation deals.

Dissolution of the Eighth Brigade The Eighth Brigade was dissolved in April 2025, following the killing of Bilal al-Droubi by members of the brigade, with Al-Awda's location being unknown at the time.

Assassination attempt In February 2026, al-Awda said he survived an assassination attempt at his Bosra residence, blaming a Hezbollah-backed group and claiming to have evidence of their involvement. Clashes around his compound left one person dead and another injured before security forces intervened. In a video statement, he announced he was placing himself under Syrian authorities, including President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra, to permit an investigation and prevent further bloodshed.