Authorities have not disclosed total number of civilians evacuated from Suwayda to date
Syrian authorities evacuated more than 500 civilians from Suwayda province to Daraa as of Wednesday using a convoy of six buses, according to the state-run SANA news agency.
The evacuation of Bedouin families who had been held in the city of Suwayda began two days ago, it said.
Authorities did not immediately disclose the total number of civilians evacuated from Suwayda to date.
On Tuesday, Interior Ministry spokesperson Nour al-Din al-Baba said the evacuation is temporary and all civilians will be returned once stability is restored.
"Several families from various communities in Suwayda were evacuated, many of whom had been held hostage or kidnapped by armed gangs,” said al-Baba, speaking to Anadolu.
On July 13, clashes broke out between Bedouin Arab tribes and armed Druze groups in Suwayda. Violence escalated and Israeli airstrikes followed, targeting Syrian military positions and infrastructure, including in the capital, Damascus.
While Israel cited the “protection of Druze communities” as a pretext for its attacks, most Druze leaders in Syria have publicly rejected any foreign interference and reaffirmed their commitment to a unified Syrian state. A ceasefire was announced on Saturday.
The new Syrian government has been working to reestablish order nationwide since the ouster of former regime leader Bashar al-Assad on Dec. 8, 2024.
