Khaberni -The Syrian Ministry of Interior announced on Monday that more than 30 people had been killed and about 100 injured in preliminary counts due to armed clashes that erupted between local military groups and tribes in the Al-Muqawis district of the city of Sweida, stemming from accumulated tensions over previous periods.
The ministry said in a statement published on its "X" platform account, "This serious escalation comes in the absence of relevant official institutions, which has led to an exacerbation of chaos and a loss of security control, with the local community unable to contain the crisis despite repeated calls for calm. This has resulted in an increase in the number of victims and a direct threat to civil peace in the region."
In this context, the ministry confirmed that units from its forces, in coordination with the Ministry of Defense, "will begin a direct intervention in the area to resolve the conflict and stop the clashes, enforce security and pursue those responsible for the events and refer them to the competent judiciary, ensuring such tragedies do not repeat, restoring stability, and strengthening the rule of law."
It also concluded by saying: "While we urge all local parties to cooperate with the internal security forces and seek calm and restraint, we affirm that the continuation of this conflict serves only chaos and increases the suffering of our civilian people. We also emphasize the importance of rapidly deploying security forces in the province, and starting a comprehensive dialogue that addresses the causes of tension and safeguards the dignity and rights of all community components in Sweida."
"The necessity of restraint"
Sweida's governor Mustafa Al-Bakour called on Sunday for "the necessity of restraint and the response to the arbitration of reason and dialogue."
Al-Bakour added: "We appreciate the efforts made by local and tribal entities to contain the tension, and affirm that the state will not be lenient in protecting citizens."
Meanwhile, "The Spiritual Leadership of the Unitarian Druze Muslims" issued a statement condemning the clashes in Sweida, the stronghold of the Druze community, considering what happened a development triggered by a "hidden fitnah (sedition)."
"The Spiritual Leadership of the Unitarian Druze Muslims" blamed those who ignited it, firmly standing by its position in "averting sedition" and "protecting the blood of the people of Sweida."
It also called on the Syrian government to control security and safety on the Damascus-Sweida road, and to distance what it described as "out-of-control gangs."
Security deployment at the administrative border separating Daraa from Sweida
Furthermore, the internal security forces in Daraa province conducted an organized security deployment at the administrative border separating Daraa and Sweida provinces, in response to the recent security developments that some areas of Sweida province witnessed, along with accompanying human and material losses, according to the agency "SANA."
The commander of the internal security forces in Daraa province, Brigadier Shahid Jibr Omran, explained that "this step aims to prevent the extension of conflicts to neighboring areas, work on containing any potential security repercussions that may affect the stability condition in the eastern countryside of Daraa in particular, and ensure the safety of citizens in all areas close to sites of tension."
