The Syrian Civil Defense renewed its call for the release of kidnapped volunteer Hamza al-Amarin, who was abducted in Suwayda in mid-July during a mission to evacuate a UN team. The group noted that over 321 volunteers have been killed in Syria since 2011 while attempting rescues.
Civil Defense officials said Amarin, head of the Emergency Response Center, was wearing his uniform and driving a marked vehicle when gunmen intercepted him near the Al-Omran roundabout. The kidnappers briefly assured colleagues of his safety in a phone call before cutting off all contact. Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh visited Amarin’s family, last month, affirming that his case is being pursued at the “highest levels.”
Foreign-Backed Factions Fuel Instability
The ongoing lawlessness in Suwayda has been worsened by factions loyal to Druze cleric Hikmat al-Hijri, whose groups are accused of obstructing government services and restricting the work of police and security forces. Analysts say support from external actors, including Israeli backing, has emboldened the militias, allowing them to operate as de facto authorities in the province.
Their dominance has left Suwayda vulnerable to gangs, remnants of extremist groups such as ISIS, and traffickers who exploit the absence of law enforcement. The result is a climate in which abductions have become common, with civilians, aid workers, and travelers facing threats on roads in and out of the governorate.
Mutual Abductions Deepen Tensions
The fate of dozens of missing persons from Suwayda, Daraa, and Bedouin communities remains uncertain. According to local sources, families of detainees have resorted to counter-kidnappings to pressure for prisoner exchanges. In one case, residents of Daraa abducted Druze community members traveling through the province, while tribes appealed to the Syrian government to intervene.
Security officials confirmed several successful rescue operations. Brigadier General Ahmad al-Dalati, said security forces in Suwayda freed kidnapped passengers from a bus traveling between Damascus and Suwayda. The Interior Ministry also reported the release of Syrian Red Crescent volunteers taken during a convoy mission in Daraa on August 12.
Humanitarian Work at Risk
The targeting of aid workers has sparked alarm among international agencies. The Civil Defense said its volunteers have saved more than 130,000 lives, warning that abductions such as Amarin’s jeopardize the future of relief efforts. Dr. Fares Kadi, head of the World Health Organization’s Sub-Regional Office, called attacks on rescuers “a serious violation of humanitarian law.”
Civil Defense leaders urged the international community to pressure factions controlling Suwayda for Amarin’s release, emphasizing that protecting humanitarian workers is both a legal and moral responsibility.
As violence and kidnappings persist, Suwayda remains trapped between foreign-backed militias, criminal gangs, and the obstruction of state authority. Families of the missing continue to wait for answers, while aid groups warn that the unchecked crisis threatens not only security in the province but also the lifeline of humanitarian work across southern Syria.
