Two Jordanian nationals who were abducted in Syria nearly three weeks ago have safely returned to Jordan, according to the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Maher Sufi and Mahmoud Owaidah were freed and handed over through official channels on Saturday, marking a significant development in a series of abductions involving Jordanian citizens in Syria.
Sufyan al-Qudah, the official spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed the safe return of the two citizens, highlighting the efforts made by both the Jordanian Embassy in Damascus and the Assad regime to locate and secure the release of the abductees. Video recordings of the reunion between the freed men and their families circulated widely on Jordanian news outlets, showing celebrations of their safe return.
While the official Jordanian narrative credits the Assad regime for the release, local reports suggest that the Eighth Brigade, a faction operating in Syria’s Daraa region, played a central role in the rescue. The brigade reportedly clashed with a kidnapping gang on Friday, September 13, during an attempt to transfer the hostages to a different location along the Daraa highway. A firefight ensued near the Al-Najeh Bridge, resulting in the eventual liberation of the two men after more than two hours of fighting.
The Eighth Brigade, which includes various local armed groups in Daraa and is currently affiliated with the Assad regime’s Military Security branch, had received intelligence about the gang’s plans. During the rescue, one of the brigade’s vehicles was destroyed, but the operation was deemed successful as the hostages were transferred to safety in Busra al-Sham.
Al-Sufi and Awida, both drivers, went missing on August 25 while returning to Jordan after delivering goods to Damascus. Their disappearance sparked concerns after their last known location was near a Military Security checkpoint on the Daraa-Damascus highway. Initial suspicions arose when the vehicle they were driving was later sold in an area outside of Daraa, and a ransom of $150,000 was demanded from the family of one of the men via WhatsApp.
The involvement of local gangs, reportedly backed by elements of the Assad regime’s security apparatus, underscores the complex and deteriorating security situation in areas under Assad’s control. Analysts suggest that the regime, which has struggled to maintain order in these regions, may be tacitly supporting criminal activities to send a message to neighboring Jordan regarding its ability to control rogue elements within its borders.
The abduction of Al-Sufi and Awida is part of an endemic pattern of kidnappings, disappearances, and detentions involving Jordanian nationals in Syria since the reopening of the Nassib border crossing in October 2018. With the resumption of travel between the two countries, cases of Jordanians going missing in Assad’s areas have surged, particularly as more Jordanians visit Syria for business, tourism, or trade.
Earlier this year, in July, Jordanian national Ali Al-Fityani disappeared in Damascus along with a friend, prompting his family to appeal to both Jordanian and the Assad regime for assistance. In 2019, Jordan also recovered several abducted citizens, including a man from Suwayda and two others detained by regime forces.
In response to these incidents, the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has continually engaged with the Assad regime, demanding the safe return of its citizens and greater transparency regarding their whereabouts. Despite these efforts, repeated kidnappings are evidence of ongoing security concerns, particularly in regions like Daraa, where criminal gangs and pro-regime militias operate with relative impunity.
According to analysts, many kidnapping operations in southern Syria are linked to criminal gangs receiving logistical and security support from the Assad regime’s agencies, including the Military Security branch. These gangs, which are also involved in drug smuggling and other illicit activities, are often granted wide-ranging freedoms, including access to weapons and security passes that allow them to bypass regime checkpoints.
Despite reassurances from the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs that travel to Syria remains safe, the growing number of kidnappings raises questions about the advisability of such trips. For now, Jordan continues to work closely with the Assad regime to mitigate risks, but the abduction of its citizens remains a source of tension between the two governments.
