Deployment of Syrian troops in Al-Swuayda leads to a third day of clashes

Al-Mazraa, Syria (EFE).- After two days of violence in the southern Syrian province of Al-Suwayda, control of security was taken by government troops on Tuesday, leading to new clashes between them and local groups.

On Tuesday morning, the army entered the city, which is predominantly Druze, taking over from local factions who had been responsible for security.

Shortly afterwards, the Ministry of Defense announced a ceasefire following a meeting with various religious leaders and local dignitaries.

Almost immediately afterwards, Brigadier General Ali al-Hasan, the head of the military police, informed the population that his troops and the Internal Security Forces had begun deploying within the city to take on new duties. Meanwhile, rows of army tanks were already returning to Damascus.

However, new clashes soon broke out between the newly arrived troops and local groups.

Failed agreement

The Ministry of Interior said in a statement that during the meeting with local leaders it was agreed that checkpoints would be established inside the town and the military vehicles initially sent would be withdrawn, in response to the “wishes of the residents.”

“However, these understandings were rapidly violated when armed outlaw groups launched treacherous attacks against the police and security personnel in an attempt to disrupt the security situation and undermine the agreements,” the department denounced.

According to the note issued on Tuesday, clashes between the two sides are still ongoing in some neighborhoods of the town.

AlSuwayda24, the local activist 24 network explained on its X account that the clashes had resumed amid growing popular discontent following a series of abuses committed by Damascus troops, including several alleged extrajudicial executions of residents.

The organization stated that the number of such killings exceeds 20, 13 of which took place in a guesthouse run by the Ridwan family, as verified with local and medical sources.

“According to family testimonies, a military group, some of whose members were wearing official military uniforms, stormed the family guesthouse and opened fire indiscriminately on everyone present,” AlSuwayda24 posted on its X account.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported at least 21 extrajudicial killings by government forces in a statement, bringing its total death toll over the last three days to 166, pending updated official figures.

More Israeli attacks

Clashes erupted near Al-Suwayda Hospital and the provincial administration headquarters, as well as around the Tourist Hotel in the city center.

Security forces imposed strict controls on access roads to al-Suwayda, from where numerous civilian and military ambulances are departing with wounded individuals. As of Tuesday, the flight of Israeli fighter jets and drones could be heard, according to EFE on the field.

In this context, Israel also launched several bombardments against Syrian troops deployed in the city, causing an undetermined number of casualties among the Internal Security Forces and the Army, the Ministry of the Interior confirmed.

Following the initial attack, Israel confirmed that it had been carried out at the request of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz.

According to a joint statement issued by both leaders’ offices, the objective was to protect the Druze population and prevent military presence near the Israeli border. Since 1967, Israel has occupied the Syrian Golan Heights, home to some 24,000 Druze.

Clashes erupted in Suwayda province after a Bedouin tribe robbed a Druze man at a checkpoint, sparking retaliatory attacks and kidnappings between the tribes and Druze armed groups, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Government forces deployed to the area, but were perceived as siding with the Bedouin tribes against Druze factions. In Israel, Druze are considered a loyal minority and frequently serve in the military. EFE

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