The Syrian Ministry of Interior announced Sept. 22 that a group of detainees from Suwayda province had been released and returned to their families under state supervision. The Internal Security Command in Suwayda received the group, securing their transfer to the city and taking what it described as “necessary measures to ensure their safety and stability.”
Brig. Gen. Husam al-Tahan, commander of internal security in Suwayda, oversaw the process in the presence of the official investigative committee tasked with examining recent unrest in the province. The ministry stated on its official accounts that the release was part of concerted efforts at enhancing security, restoring trust, and maintaining order under existing laws and regulations.
Conflicting Reports on Numbers Released
Local officials and networks provided differing accounts of the scope of the release. Sulaiman Abdulbaqi, director of security in Suwayda city, said 24 residents had been freed and escorted through the Matuna crossing in the northern countryside. He wrote on Facebook that the detainees had been “protected” by internal security until their return.
Other outlets, including Suwayda 24 and Rased, reported that 22 civilians had been released from Adra prison in Damascus countryside, citing coordination with the Syrian Red Crescent. According to those networks, the detainees were among residents arrested during mid-July clashes between government forces, tribal fighters, and local Druze groups. Over 70 others remain held in Adra, the outlets reported.
Commission of Inquiry Involvement
The official spokesman of the Commission of Inquiry on the events in Suwayda, lawyer Ammar Izzuddin, confirmed that 23 detainees were freed following investigations. He told SANA that inquiries showed the individuals “did not commit any act that constitutes a crime in accordance with Syrian law.”
Izzuddin also said the commission coordinated with the Ministry of Interior to arrange the transfer and security of those released, noting that the body continues to review individual cases and will recommend release for any detainees who have not violated the law.
Efforts Toward Stability and Dialogue
Security officials presented the handovers as part of continuing reconciliation process in the province. According to Al-Ikhbariyah Tahan said he begun meetings between Suwayda residents and Bedouin tribes to reduce tensions and “ensure security and protect rights.” He added some detainees previously held by tribal groups were transferred to the city under state care.
Tahan acknowledged complications in the process, saying “some parties within Suwayda City are obstructing the handover” of abducted Bedouins while stressing the state’s commitment to completing the process fairly.
Roadmap for Suwayda Crisis
The releases followed the announcement of a political “roadmap” following a tripartite meeting of Syrian, Jordanian and US representatives. The plan calls for humanitarian assistance, police deployment to secure key roads, and cooperation with the International Commission of Inquiry to investigate July’s events.
Suwayda’s crisis began in July with kidnappings and escalated clashes between Druze militias and Bedouin residents, followed by government intervention. While progress has been made in recent days, dozens of detainees remain unaccounted for, and local networks report that negotiations and exchanges are ongoing.
