مواجهات السويداء.. 130 قتيلاً وجريحاً

The governorate of Suwayda has returned to the cycle of fighting, which has resulted in the deaths and abductions of several civilians and Syrian army personnel due to recent clashes between local military groups, the "Druze," on one side and tribes in the Al-Maqous neighborhood, against the backdrop of accumulated tensions in previous periods. This has occurred in the absence of the relevant official institutions, leading to a worsening of chaos and security breakdown, and the local community's inability to contain the crisis. According to Brigadier General Nizar Al-Hariri, Deputy Commander of Internal Security for Police Affairs, tensions escalated following a robbery incident that occurred on the Damascus-Suwayda road, affecting a commercial sector worker, which was followed by mutual abductions from both sides. Meanwhile, Suwayda Governor Mustafa Al-Bakur called on all parties to exercise restraint and respond to the national call for reform.

For his part, the commander of Internal Security Forces in Daraa, Brigadier General Shaher Jabr Imran, confirmed that the Internal Security Forces in Daraa are working to secure vital points and unofficial crossings between the two governorates to prevent the transfer of tensions to Daraa and the infiltration of lawless elements into the conflict areas. The Internal Security Command in Daraa also detained a group of individuals following their appearance in a video circulated online, where they spoke individually and without authorization about civil peace issues, emphasizing that this behavior is a clear violation of regulations and instructions, and that statements related to national issues are issued only by official entities.

Spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, Nour Al-Din Al-Baba, confirmed that the internal and defense forces entered the governorate in the morning with hopes of resolving the situation by this evening, affirming that communication has been established with all active parties in Suwayda before implementing the security deployment plan, and that it is essential to completely disarm all lawless groups.

Interior Minister Anas Khattab stated in a tweet on his account on the X platform, "The absence of state institutions, especially military and security ones, is a major reason for the ongoing tensions in Suwayda and its countryside, and there is no solution except by enforcing security and activating the role of institutions in a way that guarantees civil peace and the return of life to normal."

The Ministry of Defense issued a statement confirming its monitoring of the bloody developments in the Suwayda governorate, which resulted in the deaths of 30 people and injuries to about a hundred, calling on all parties in the governorate to cooperate with the Ministry of Defense forces and Internal Security Forces and to adhere to restraint, warning that continued escalation increases the suffering of civilians.

The ministry confirmed its readiness to support any initiative aimed at enhancing civil peace, reinforcing the spirit of citizenship, and building a secure future that befits the dignity of all, emphasizing the deployment of units in hot areas to secure safe passages for civilians.

The Military Council in Suwayda issued a statement calling on the people of the mountain to be aware, unite, and reject any sectarian or inciting rhetoric, and to adhere to the historical constants based on dignity and honor, announcing that the responsibility to defend the people of Suwayda and deter anyone attempting to destabilize security falls on everyone.

It added: "We extend our hand to all honorable individuals to unify ranks against chaos, away from narrow interests or allegiance to any party."

For her part, the Deputy Special Envoy of the United Nations to Syria, Najat Rushdi, expressed the organization's concern over the violence and abductions in Suwayda and the loss of several victims via the X platform, calling on the Syrian government and local authorities to protect civilians, restore calm, and prevent incitement.

The UN coordinator in Syria confirmed his concern regarding the serious developments in Suwayda, reiterating calls for de-escalation and the protection of civilians.