Syria Detains Security and Military Personnel After Deadly July Violence in Suwayda

Syria detains security and military personnel as probe continues into Suwayda bloodshed

Syria has arrested members of its security and military services as part of an official investigation into sectarian violence that erupted in the southern province of Suwayda in July and left hundreds dead, Judge Hatem Naasan said.

Naasan, who leads the committee investigating the violence, said those in the security services and armed forces "proven to have committed violations" — based on the committee's findings and videos circulated online — have been detained. He said Interior Ministry units detained security personnel while the Defence Ministry detained members of the military.

Footage that circulated online showed armed men killing Druze civilians kneeling in public squares and humiliating elderly men by shaving their moustaches. Naasan said the videos clearly showed faces and that the authorities had moved to detain the individuals depicted.

He did not provide a figure for arrests or give a final death toll, saying a comprehensive number will be published in the committee's final report, expected by the end of the year. Naasan also acknowledged that some foreign fighters entered Suwayda individually and were detained and questioned; he stressed that, according to the probe, those foreign fighters were not members of Syria's armed or security forces.

The clashes began in the Druze-majority province after the abduction of a Druze truck driver on a public highway, an incident that drew Bedouin tribal fighters from other regions into the confrontation. Government forces were later deployed to restore order; some reports and residents accused elements of the security forces of siding with the Bedouin fighters. Hundreds of civilians, mostly Druze, were killed during the week of fighting before a ceasefire was established.

International responses: Reports say Israel launched air attacks in and around Suwayda, and there were claims of strikes targeting Syrian government forces, including an attack reported on the Ministry of Defence in Damascus. Independent verification of some incidents remains limited and accounts vary.

In the aftermath of the violence, many residents of Suwayda have called for greater autonomy within a federal framework, while a smaller group has demanded full partition. The unrest has added pressure on Syria's leadership as it seeks to rebuild foreign relations and attract investment.

The article also notes diplomatic moves described by some sources: a Syrian leader identified as Ahmed al-Sharaa has reportedly been engaging with international partners, including addressing the United Nations General Assembly and meeting with foreign leaders. Several governments and blocs have been assessing their approach to Syria, with some sanctions adjustments and renewed interest in investment. These developments, along with deep internal divisions and regional tensions, mean Syria faces significant challenges ahead in pursuing national reconciliation and reconstruction.