Syria launches operation to secure detainee exchange in Suwayda, ICRC mediates

2026-02-26 - 12:32

Syrian Internal Security Forces, working alongside military police, launched an operation Thursday to secure the release and transfer of detainees held by outlaw groups in Suwayda province, state media reported. The operation facilitated the arrival of 61 detainees from Suwayda at the Matouneh checkpoint in the province's northern countryside, preparing for an exchange with 25 individuals held by armed groups in the area . Red Cross Mediation and Security Deployment The exchange took place under the mediation of the International Committee of the Red Cross, with ICRC teams conducting interviews with each detainee prior to transfer to confirm consent and assess medical condition . A heavy deployment of internal security forces and military police secured the Damascus-Suwayda highway throughout the operation. Two ambulance teams from the Syrian Arab Red Crescent accompanied the buses to ensure emergency response capacity . Context of Suwayda Conflict Suwayda province has observed a fragile ceasefire since July 2025 following armed clashes between Bedouin tribes and Druze groups that left hundreds dead . The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported more than 2,000 people killed during the violence, including allegations of summary executions . However, groups affiliated with Druze cleric Hikmat al-Hijri have repeatedly violated the truce and targeted military positions, despite the government's commitment to the agreement and facilitation of humanitarian aid . Government Consolidation Efforts Since the fall of the previous regime on December 8, 2024, the Syrian government has sought to impose security across the country while some groups continue to bear arms and trigger unrest . Damascus has stressed its determination to assert control over the entire country, with this operation representing another step toward that objective.