ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Security forces affiliated to the Syrian defence ministry withdrew from the predominantly-Druze city of Suwayda late Wednesday following Israeli attacks and US intervention. The southern province has seen days of deadly clashes between the religious minority and forces affiliated with Damascus.
“The Syrian Arab Army has begun withdrawing from Suwayda, in accordance with an agreement between the Syrian state and the city's religious sheikhs. This follows the completion of the army's pursuit of outlaw groups,” the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported.
According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), over 300 people have been killed since fighting erupted between the Druze community and the Bedouin tribes on Sunday. Among the dead are 69 Druze fighters and 40 civilians, including 27 reportedly killed in “summary executions... by members of the defense and interior ministries.” The monitor also reported the deaths of 165 pro-government fighters, 18 Bedouins, and ten regime security personnel killed in Israeli strikes.
The Israeli army hit several government-affiliated sites in Damascus on Wednesday, including an army headquarters. US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented on the tensions, stating that there were ongoing efforts to de-escalate the tensions.
US State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce told Rudaw’s Diyar Kurda during a press briefing on Wednesday that there has been a misunderstanding and that the US is involved in the efforts to end the tensions.
“We've understood that the results have to be… described [and] people there in Syria have to see results, especially regarding the infrastructure. At the same time this is a new, fluid dynamic,” she said.
A resident of Suwayda sent a video of her house, describing their fear and violations committed by Damascus-affiliated security forces.
“We have been besieged in Suwayda. We cannot leave Suwayda at all. Suwayda has been completely besieged. We have also been besieged in the house and we have been under mortar attacks in a frightening way for three days, meaning the mortar attacks do not cease and there is gunfire and street fighting. Snippers have been placed in all parts of Suwayda,” she noted.
Videos showing security forces disrespecting the Druze community, including shaving their moustaches, went viral in recent days. The Syrian government acknowledged the violations and pledged to hold the perpetrators accountable.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General, told Rudaw’s Sinan Tuncdemir during a press briefing that these videos were “extremely concerning,” adding that “we are very much eager to follow up with the government on their call for an investigation and also on their commitment to hold people to account. The videos are shocking and highly, highly disturbing.”
