Evacuation of Injured and Wounded from Sweida City in Syria

SadaNews - Syrian government buses entered the city of Sweida in the south of the country as part of evacuation operations for the injured and detainees, coinciding with official efforts to solidify a ceasefire agreement following days of violent clashes that resulted in dozens of deaths.

 

"Syrian news" reported that government buses began evacuation operations from inside the city, while the commander of Sweida police, Major General Ahmed Dalati, explained that the government’s mediation with local parties resulted in an agreement to release the detained Bedouin families and ensure their safe return.

Dalati emphasized the necessity of respecting the ceasefire agreement and creating an atmosphere for the return of state institutions, which ensures the restoration of security and stability in the governorate.

For his part, Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab stated that internal security forces managed to calm the situation in Sweida following their deployment in the northern and western neighborhoods of the city, pointing out that this deployment represents a first step toward controlling the chaos of weapons and establishing security, paving the way for the start of a prisoner exchange process and the gradual return of normal life in the governorate.

In a related context, a convoy of humanitarian aid entered Sweida as part of the emergency response announced by the authorities. A government source said that the convoy entered without the presence of the official delegation after Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri refused to allow its entry.

The spiritual leadership of the Druze community welcomed the arrival of humanitarian aid, describing the governorate as "disaster-stricken", praising any effort that contributes to saving lives and alleviating the suffering of the residents.

For its part, the Sweida governorate confirmed that it is working on reactivating government institutions and raising essential needs to the relevant authorities with the aim of gradually restoring life.

The Syrian Civil Defense also announced that it has provided essential supplies inside the shelters in cooperation with humanitarian organizations.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned the prevention of what it described as "armed militias outside the law" from allowing a humanitarian convoy that was accompanied by government figures, including three ministers and the governor of Sweida.

In its efforts to contain the crisis, the Syrian government announced reaching four ceasefire agreements in Sweida, the latest of which was last Saturday.

However, the previous three agreements quickly collapsed, with the last violation occurring on Friday when new confrontations broke out following a group affiliated with Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri forcibly displacing a number of Bedouin clan members and committing violations against them.