A hostage exchange in the southern province of Suwayda occurred October 26 indicating ongoing efforts by the Syrian government to stabilize the region and address human rights violations following months of unrest. The exchange, coordinated by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) and the Damascus government, took place in the town of Matouna and involved the release of 34 Bedouin hostages, mostly women and children,in exchange for two Druze captives, according to official media reports.
The operation followed violent clashes months ago in July between armed Druze factions and Bedouin tribes displacing hundreds and leaving many dead before a cease-fire took effect on July 19. The government has since announced four separate cease-fire agreements in Suwayda, accompanied by an investigation led by the Ministry of Justice. The National Committee to Investigate the Events of Suwayda was formed to document rights violations, abductions, and forced displacements during the July conflict and is expected to submit its findings within three months, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).
Abductions and Displacement Under Investigation
Authorities say recent reports of kidnappings and forced displacement are being reviewed as part of the broader inquiry. Syrian Civil Defense Director Mounir Mustafa confirmed to Al-Ikhbariyah that humanitarian worker Hamza al-Amarin, head of the Civil Defense Center in Daraa, remains missing months after his abduction in Suwayda. “There is no confirmed information regarding his fate,” Mustafa said, adding that investigators believe Amarin is being held by armed factions in the province.
Amnesty International on renewed its demand for his release, calling on local factions to “immediately reveal his fate and return him to safety.” The organization reported that Amarin disappeared on July 16 while responding to a UN appeal in Suwayda. Eyewitnesses said armed men intercepted his marked vehicle near the Omran roundabout and took him to an unknown location.
Government officials and SARC also confirmed that 34 Bedouin women and children were evacuated from Suwayda under Interior Ministry supervision. They were transferred to temporary shelters in Daraa and Rural Damascus, part of what officials described as efforts to “secure and stabilize” the region after waves of forced displacement. Daraa authorities reported that over 300 tribal residents have been relocated since July.
Accountability and International Oversight
At the UN, Syria’s Permanent Representative Ibrahim Olabi told the Security Council that Damascus has granted the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria unrestricted access to Suwayda. “We have affirmed our commitment to accountability, granting investigators full access, and working to heal the wounds of Suwayda,” Olabi said. He also emphasized that over $14 million raised through the “Suwayda One of Us” campaign reflects popular unity and support for reconstruction.
As the Ministry of Justice’s inquiry continues, humanitarian convoys and aid shipments continue, supervised by the Red Crescent. The government says these efforts aim not only to alleviate suffering but also to restore confidence among residents of a province still recovering from violence and division.
