More than 30 people have been killed in clashes in the mostly Druze-populated southernmost Syrian province of Suwayda over the past two days, while more than 100 others have been injured, the Syrian Defense Ministry said on Monday.
“It is with deep sorrow and concern that we are following the tragic events in Suwayda province. Over the past two days, more than 30 people have been killed and more than a hundred injured in a number of districts and towns,” the statement read.
The ministry said that lack of effective government institutions on the ground had contributed to the chaos and prevented security forces and troops from intervening quickly to curb violence.
The Ministry of Defence and the Interior Ministry sent troops to the south, the department said. Safe corridors for civilians were created. The government called on the sides to the conflict to cooperate with the army and exercise restraint, saying that further escalation would only increase the suffering of civilians.
The Ministry called on employees working in conflict zones to strictly fulfill their duties, meaning to protect citizens and prevent new violations.
The Druze spiritual leadership called on the interim government to restore order on the Damascus-Suwayda highway and eliminate the presence of armed gangs.
On Sunday, armed gangs attacked a number of Druze settlements in Suwayda, blocking the highway that connects the province to Damascus. Druze armed forces joined the battle against the gangs to protect civilians.
Syria’s armed opposition captured Damascus on December 8, 2024. Bashar Assad stepped down as Syrian president and left the country. Ahmed Al-Sharaa, the leader of the armed opposition, was declared transitional president in January. A new Syrian cabinet was formed in March.
(UNI)
