Suwayda, Syria
Local faction leaders in As Suwayda, southern Syria, have reached an agreement to reinstate Syria Security Forces in the province following a meeting on Tuesday with Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri, the spiritual leader of the Druze community. The deal allows for the deployment of security personnel under specific conditions.
A source from the local factions told 963+ that the meeting brought together Sheikh Al-Hijri with key faction leaders, including Yahya Al-Hajjar, commander of Men of Dignity; Suleiman Abdel-Baqi, leader of Ahrar Jabal Al-Arab; and Shakib Azam, commander of Liwa Al-Jabal.
According to the source, the factions agreed to the reintroduction of Syrian Security Forces in As Suwayda on the condition that all officers and personnel be locals from the province. Additionally, the agreement includes the reactivation of police stations, criminal investigation units, and traffic police, with all staff recruited from local communities.
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However, the agreement stipulates that the positions of As Suwayda’s governor and police chief will be held by individuals from outside the province. The factions also reaffirmed that As Suwayda remains an integral part of Syria, with Damascus as its central authority.
A follow-up meeting is expected to take place soon between a delegation from As Suwayda and the Syrian leadership in Damascus to strengthen ties, reaffirm national unity, and reject any attempts to divide the country.
Security Reinforcement and Challenges
Last week, Men of Dignity released a statement confirming an agreement between their leadership, Ahrar Jabal Al-Arab, and the Syrian Ministry of Interior to restore public security in As Suwayda.
The statement outlined that the security forces would be locally led and staffed, focusing on maintaining stability, combating crime, and addressing the drug trade, with logistical support provided by the Ministry of Interior. The ministry has already supplied eight police vehicles to assist the local security teams, with additional support expected in the coming weeks.
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Despite the agreement, the movement reported encountering resistance from certain groups opposed to the return of state authority. Men of Dignity noted the circulation of voice recordings and messages threatening to attack or destroy the newly deployed police vehicles. The group condemned these threats, stating that such actions only serve those who benefit from ongoing chaos and lawlessness.
The faction’s statement firmly warned against attempts to incite unrest or undermine efforts to restore stability, declaring, “The will of the people of As Suwayda is stronger than any attempt to drag the province into disorder.”
