Kidnapped in Suwayda: Calls to Reveal the Fate of a Civil Defense Official

Ammar Johmani Magazine
A volunteer from the Syria Civil Defense during his presence at an exam center in Jarablus, eastern Aleppo – 17 July 2025 (Syria Civil Defense)

The fate of Hamza al-Amareen, head of the Emergency Response Center of the Syria Civil Defense in the city of Izra in Daraa, southern Syria, remains unknown after contact was lost with him in the city of Suwayda on 16 July, while he was evacuating civilians and transporting the wounded from conflict zones in Suwayda governorate. There are ongoing calls demanding clarity on his fate.

Ahmad al-Zoubi, a volunteer with the Civil Defense, told Enab Baladi that al-Amareen was with him on the day he went missing, explaining that they had worked together to evacuate and treat dozens of civilians without regard to their affiliations.

He added that he was assigned to a second mission on the same day that forced him to separate from al-Amareen. The last contact he had with him was at 5:30 PM on 16 July, after which contact was lost.

The Civil Defense communicated with international and local organizations to uncover Hamza’s fate, but there have been no results so far, according to Ahmad al-Zoubi.

Solidarity Campaigns

The city of Nawa, in northern rural Daraa, the hometown of Hamza al-Amareen, witnessed a protest on 25 July, during which dozens held up photos and banners demanding to know Hamza’s fate, stressing that he was on a humanitarian mission and not a party to any conflict.

The protest was attended by dozens of Civil Defense members and civilians from different areas of Daraa governorate.

Shahin al-Amareen, Hamza’s brother, told Enab Baladi that they are currently intensifying their calls for clarity on his fate through social media and protest vigils.

He added that the kidnappers had not contacted the family at the time of this report’s preparation.

Activists also participated in a social media campaign calling for the release of Hamza al-Amareen, highlighting that he was performing a humanitarian mission.

Motee al-Bateen, former spokesperson for the now-dissolved “Syrian Islamic Council,” posted on his Facebook page, urging activists to form a front to save Hamza al-Amarin through social media campaigns and by sharing hashtags calling for disclosure of his whereabouts.

Journalist Mohammad al-Salloum wrote on Facebook that Hamza al-Amarin, a Civil Defense volunteer, had been tasked by a United Nations team with evacuating a family in the city of Suwayda before contact was lost with him. He demanded that Hamza’s fate be revealed and that he be released immediately.

Twelve Days Since the Kidnapping

In a statement on its Facebook page on 18 July, the Civil Defense said that Hamza al-Amareen, head of the Emergency Response Center, entered Suwayda at 4:30 PM on Wednesday, 16 July, wearing his official uniform bearing the “White Helmets” logo, to carry out an evacuation operation requested by the United Nations.

The statement quoted a woman from Suwayda who was with  al-Amareen in his vehicle during the mission. It noted that local armed men stopped the vehicle in the Omran area, took al-Amareen to an unknown location, and seized the vehicle he was driving.

It explained that contact was reestablished with al-Amareen the next morning, Thursday, 17 July, at 10:00 AM, when someone answered his phone and confirmed that he was “safe and sound,” but then contact was lost again, and there has been no communication since.

The Civil Defense said it tried to reach the kidnappers through local mediators but received no response. It held local factions in Suwayda fully responsible for his safety and called for his immediate release and that the confiscated vehicle not be used in any activity.

Background to the Tensions

On 12 July, clashes erupted between local factions, primarily Druze, and residents of the al-Maqous neighborhood from the Bedouin community in Suwayda, following the kidnapping of a Druze civilian and his vehicle, for which the Bedouins were blamed.

After al-Maqous was besieged, the General Security affiliated with the Syrian government intervened under the pretext of enforcing order in the city, which led to confrontations with local factions, most notably the “Military Council in Suwayda.” This prompted intervention by Israel to force government forces to withdraw. Subsequent clashes with Arab tribes ended with the direct involvement of Internal Security, which was able to restore order in the vicinity of the governorate.

Tensions have since moved toward de-escalation in Suwayda following an agreement between the government and the factions, brokered by intermediaries, to establish a ceasefire under international auspices.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights documented the deaths of at least 814 people and the injury of 903 others during the Suwayda events between 13 and 24 July.

The network’s tally includes civilian casualties, including children, women, and medical personnel, in addition to fighters from Bedouin tribal armed groups and local fighters from Suwayda, as well as members of the Internal Security Forces and the Ministry of Defense.

Head of Civil Defense Center in Suwayda Kidnapped

The post Kidnapped in Suwayda: Calls to Reveal the Fate of a Civil Defense Official appeared first on Enab Baladi.

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