The fate of dozens of Bedouin tribesmen and Daraa residents detained by local armed factions in Suwayda (southern Syria) remains unknown, including Civil Defense volunteer Hamza al-Amareen, who went missing in Suwayda in July while evacuating a United Nations mission.
In response, Bedouin and Daraa residents detained several Druze civilians as they passed through the Busr al-Sham crossing in Daraa province, seeking to pressure Suwayda factions into a prisoner swap. The Syrian government has faced calls to intervene for their release.
Tribes appeal to the government
Mustafa al-Amiri, spokesperson for the Suwayda tribes, told Enab Baladi that he has been seeking to contact the Syrian government to add the names of Bedouin and civilian detainees in Suwayda to negotiations.
He said he had sent messages to Brigadier General Ahmad al-Dallati, urging immediate intervention to secure the release of those held by Suwayda factions.
Al-Amiri noted that internal security forces have worked to free Druze hostages in Daraa but have not acted to release detainees held by Suwayda factions.
On August 22, internal security forces managed to free several Druze abductees who had gone missing in Daraa province on August 17 while traveling by bus from Sahnaya (Damascus countryside) to Suwayda via Daraa. The bus was carrying six women and two young men, according to Enab Baladi’s correspondent at the time.
On August 21, authorities also announced the release of Druze aid workers abducted in eastern Daraa countryside on August 13 while returning from Jaramana (Damascus countryside).“Acting as a state”
Political writer Ghassan al-Muflih told Enab Baladi that the Syrian authorities know Suwayda factions will not respond to demands to release their detainees, but are trying to act as a state by pursuing diplomatic avenues.
He argued that the government seeks to resolve the issue quietly, away from media coverage, while external actors seek to exploit the Suwayda events for political ends.
Regarding the case of Hamza al- Amareen , al-Muflih said responsibility lies with the Civil Defense, the Syrian Ministry of Emergency, and the Disaster Management Authority.
More than a month since al-Amareen’s disappearance
Hamza al-Amareen, head of emergency response at the Civil Defense center in Izra (Daraa), went missing on July 16 after entering Suwayda at 4:30 p.m. in his White Helmets uniform to evacuate a stranded UN team amid security unrest.
His sister, Omra al-Amareen, told Enab Baladi that Hamza had just returned from firefighting missions in Syria’s coastal region and joined his Civil Defense unit in Izra the same day. He was assigned to assist the UN evacuation in Suwayda but lost contact by 7:00 p.m.
The next morning at 7:00 a.m., Hamza’s wife received a message from him saying he was safe and in Suwayda without further details. Civil Defense also attempted to reach him but only his captors replied, saying Hamza was being held and would be brought before the Druze religious leader (Sheikh al-‘Aql). Communication was then cut off.
His sister stressed that Hamza had been on a humanitarian mission for the UN and called on the organization to intervene, saying it is “astonishing” that his fate has been ignored.
Tit-for-tat abductions
Despite local factions loyal to Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri detaining dozens of Bedouin and Daraa residents, including some from Deir Ezzor, the Interior Ministry has not sought their release. This prompted some families to detain Druze civilians to pressure for prisoner exchanges.
Enab Baladi reached out to the Interior Ministry for clarification on detainee exchanges but received no reply by publication.
Ihsan al-Jarad, from the town of Western Maliha in Daraa, told Enab Baladi that two of his brothers went missing in Suwayda after participating in tribal clashes against local factions in July.
He expressed concern for one brother’s health, noting he suffers from a chronic illness requiring continuous treatment.
Ihsan’s family detained four Druze individuals in their home to pressure for his brothers’ release. He said the hostages spoke to their relatives via video call and were in good condition. An exchange had been expected, but internal security forces raided the house, freed the captives, and promised to help secure the release of his brothers — which has not happened.
Ihsan rejected the term “kidnapping” for the Druze he had held, saying he was “hosting them to help secure the release of his brothers.” He added that the freed Druze remain in contact with him and are trying to mediate.
How the Suwayda crisis unfolded
The events began on July 12 with mutual abductions between local factions and Bedouin residents of the Maqous neighborhood in Suwayda. The following day, tensions escalated into armed clashes, prompting government intervention and reports of violations by state forces.
Government troops later withdrew after Israeli strikes hit their positions in Suwayda and Damascus. This was followed by abuses against Bedouin residents by Suwayda factions, prompting tribes to mobilize convoys toward the province. The Syrian government intervened again, deploying separation forces between the factions and tribes in western Suwayda countryside.
Both sides continue to hold hostages , civilians and fighters captured in the mid-July clashes, with no exchanges carried out to date.
Demands for the release of Daraa detainees and Bedouin in Suwayda, southern Syria Enab Baladi.
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