The Syrian government denied the withdrawal of security forces from villages in Suwayda (southern Syria), following reports that its forces had pulled out from one of the villages.
State-run al-Ikhbariya TV reported on Wednesday, August 20, quoting the media office of the Internal Security Directorate in Suwayda, that there was no truth to media claims about the withdrawal of internal security forces from villages in the countryside of the province.
For its part, Enab Baladi’s correspondent in Suwayda also denied reports of a pullout, citing internal security personnel stationed in villages under government control.
The Syrian government currently controls more than 30 villages in Suwayda.
Earlier the same day, the local “Suwayda News Network” Facebook page claimed that local factions had begun advancing and deploying in the village of al-Sweimra (in Suwayda’s countryside), after government forces withdrew.
The page further noted that several bodies were found in the village, belonging to individuals killed over a month ago.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported that local engineering teams entered al-Sweimra following the withdrawal of Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Interior units, and discovered the bodies of four Druze civilians inside the village.
However, residents of the nearby town of Lajat told Enab Baladi’s correspondent that no clashes or government troop withdrawals had taken place in al-Sweimra.
Recovery of Bodies in Suwayda
Enab Baladi’s correspondent reported that Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) teams entered Suwayda city to recover bodies from inside the city.
Meanwhile, the local network “Suwayda 24” said that in recent days, SARC teams had retrieved several bodies from villages in the western and northern countryside of the province. Some of the bodies were transferred to Suwayda National Hospital, while others were sent to hospitals in Damascus or Daraa.
Enab Baladi contacted SARC’s media office to obtain details about the recovery process in Suwayda, but had not received a response as of the time of publishing.
No Border Corridor
In a separate development, a Syrian government source told the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) on Wednesday, August 20, that there was no humanitarian corridor across the border, affirming that the delivery of humanitarian aid is carried out exclusively through direct coordination with state institutions in Damascus.
The unnamed government source explained that this policy stems from a “keenness to ensure aid reaches all those in need in a safe and organized manner, including in Suwayda and other areas.”
The source added that the Syrian government had granted the necessary approvals and facilitation to relevant UN agencies, while Syrian national aid convoys continue to operate regularly. The statement framed these efforts as reflecting “Syria’s commitment to securing humanitarian needs in cooperation with its international partners.”
The denial came after reports surfaced of coordination between Syria and Israel to open a humanitarian corridor into Suwayda, during a meeting between officials from the two sides in Paris on Tuesday.
The government denies the existence of a border corridor (SANA).
Syrian–Israeli Meeting in Paris
According to SANA, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani met with an official Israeli delegation led by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer in the French capital, Paris. The meeting was held under American mediation with the stated aim of discussing de-escalation and enhancing stability in southern Syria.
The talks, SANA said, focused on security and political issues, chiefly monitoring the ceasefire in Suwayda, affirming the principle of non-interference in Syrian internal affairs, and exploring potential bilateral understandings that could contribute to stabilizing the southern region.
US Mediation for Humanitarian Corridor
The American website Axios reported that the administration of US President Donald Trump is seeking to mediate an agreement that would establish a humanitarian corridor between Suwayda and Israel, intended to provide direct humanitarian aid to civilians in southern Syria.
According to the site, the initiative is described as a potential entry point for broader de-escalation and as a step that could open the door to limited normalization of relations between the two sides. Washington, the report said, views this as part of gradual efforts to revive the Syrian settlement track.
US and Israeli officials told Axios that if successful, such an agreement could provide an opportunity to reinvigorate US involvement in the Syrian file, while also serving as a practical step to bring regional views closer, starting with the urgent humanitarian needs in the south.
Background: Suwayda Crisis
More than a month has passed since the Suwayda crisis began on July 13, triggered by clashes between local factions and armed men from tribal groups in the region, following mutual kidnappings between the two sides.
The situation escalated further after the intervention of government forces from the Ministries of Interior and Defense, alongside armed tribal fighters, which was accompanied by violations by both the government and local factions/tribal groups against civilians.
The province is currently experiencing a state of relative calm following the signing of an internationally mediated ceasefire agreement between the parties.
Syrian Government Denies Withdrawal of Forces from Villages in Suwayda Enab Baladi.
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