Post by : Shweta

Violence Erupts in Sweida: Ten Security Members Injured

Intensified Fighting Between Government Forces and Local Militias

Ten members of the Syrian government's security forces sustained injuries during renewed confrontations with local armed groups in Sweida province, as reported by Syrian state television. The clashes, occurring in the Druze-majority southern region, unfolded on Monday.

According to the Internal Security Command in Sweida, the count of injured personnel rose to 10 following what they described as assaults by "outlaw groups" targeting security positions near Tal Hadid and along the Walgha axis.

Escalating Violence Claims Civilian Lives

This recent outbreak of violence follows the deaths of two civilians who were reportedly killed in related confrontations near Sweida city, according to two local security sources.

Initially, state media indicated that four security personnel were injured while responding to attacks in the western countryside; however, this figure was later updated to ten.

Government Forces Clash with Local Armed Groups

The ongoing clashes depict a stark confrontation between Syrian government forces and local armed factions in the region. Currently, both Sweida city and adjacent areas are under significant influence from these local groups, posing a substantial challenge for the government.

Post-Bashar Assad's regime in 2024, authorities have struggled to extend their control throughout the nation.

Druze National Guard Objects to Government Claims

Among the factions involved is the National Guard, affiliated with Druze leader Hikmat Al-Hijri, which has accused government forces of indiscrewly shelling civilian areas with mortars and machine guns. The group claims a child was injured as they retaliated by targeting the source of the fire.

These allegations remain unverified by independent sources.

Civilians Among the Casualties

A Druze security source reported to AFP that a shell from a government-controlled area struck the outskirts of Sweida city on Sunday. The shell hit a tractor, resulting in the deaths of two individuals on board, including the driver and a woman. This account has not been independently confirmed.

Sweida: A Persistent Security Challenge

These new clashes follow a series of exchanges of fire between government forces and Druze armed groups that reportedly began Saturday night, per the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Since last year, Sweida has witnessed ongoing tensions, sparked by clashes between Druze communities and government forces, resulting in some of the most severe communal violence in Syria post-Assad.

#GlobalNews #World News