In an exclusive statement to the ‘Sputnik’ agency, a relief and humanitarian activist in Sweida confirmed that the governorate is ‘experiencing a state of terrorism and insecurity amidst an atmosphere of panic and fear of epidemic outbreaks due to the spread of corpses in the streets and inside apartments to this moment.’
The activist pointed out the efforts made by the local community and expatriates from Sweida to help the city’s residents, questioning, ‘But with the media being prevented from conveying the truth abroad, how will they allow the arrival of donations and aid?’
She concluded with a distress call, ‘The aid that has entered so far from international organizations covers only less than 20% of the basic needs.’
Despite reaching a fragile ceasefire agreement between government forces and tribal militants on one side, and local factions on the other, the recent escalation required urgent intervention from the guarantor states of the agreement to try to contain the situation and re-establish the ceasefire, amid fears of its complete collapse if security breaches continue.
The Syrian Ministry of Interior announced on Sunday what it described as ‘gangs in Sweida’ in several axes, indicating that attacks on internal security forces in the governorate resulted in the killing and injury of several of its members.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army announced that it targeted Syrian military vehicles in Sweida, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, in a joint statement, pledged ‘to prevent any harm to the Druze in Syria, stemming from the deep fraternal alliance with the Druze in Israel.’
In response to the decision, it was announced that there was agreement and commitment to its terms, and a safe exit process was organized for Bedouin tribal families from inside Sweida, accompanied by UN forces.
