Clashes renewed on the morning of Sunday, August 3, between local factions and tribal fighters around the strategic Tal al-Hadid, near the town of al-Thaalah in the western countryside of Suwayda.
The fighting began after local factions took control of Tel al-Hadid and Tel al-Aqra, which were previously held by Internal Security Forces acting as buffer zones between local forces and tribal fighters.
Enab Baladi’s correspondent in Daraa reported that Internal Security Forces withdrew from the area after being attacked by local factions, resulting in the deaths of five officers and injuries to others, who were transferred to al-Hirak Hospital in eastern Daraa.
Tel al-Hadid overlooks the city of Suwayda and surrounding areas, making it a location of high strategic value.
The Syrian Ministry of Interior had previously announced, on July 19, the terms of a ceasefire agreement in Suwayda. The agreement followed negotiations between Syria’s transitional president Ahmad al-Sharaa and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, supported by the United States and endorsed by Turkey, Jordan, and neighboring states.
Humanitarian Aid Arrives in Suwayda
On Saturday, August 2, Suwayda Governorate announced the arrival of a new humanitarian aid convoy via the Busra al-Sham crossing in Daraa countryside. The convoy included 10 trucks carrying food and flour.
According to Enab Baladi’s correspondent in Daraa, the convoy contained vegetables and essential food supplies and entered through the Busra al-Sham crossing.
The same day, a separate convoy evacuated 386 people—mostly women and children—from Suwayda. The evacuees arrived in Busra al-Sham in the evening, transported in buses supervised by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent.
Additionally, on August 1, the first fuel convoy reached Suwayda. It included four tankers carrying 96,000 liters of diesel, according to the Daraa correspondent, who said the delivery was coordinated with local authorities and overseen by the Red Crescent.
On the same day, the Syrian Civil Defense evacuated 77 families comprising 159 individuals, including women and children, via the humanitarian corridor in Busra al-Sham, ensuring their safe transfer to their chosen destinations. Meanwhile, 55 families (293 individuals) returned to Suwayda through the same crossing.
The Civil Defense stated that multiple civilian groups had previously left Suwayda for shelter centers. As of July 27, they had recorded 3,227 evacuees, including 20 injured and 34 deceased individuals, via the Busra al-Sham corridor.
Security Control and Government Response
Internal Security Forces do not currently maintain a presence in the Suwayda interior, where local factions dominate. Prior to today’s assault, these forces were deployed only on the outskirts and maintained control over Tel al-Hadid and Tel al-Aqra in the western countryside.
According to data from the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR), at least 814 people have been killed in Suwayda since tensions began on July 13. The victims include 34 women, 20 children, six medical workers, and two media personnel.
In response to the escalating violence, the Syrian Ministry of Justice formed a committee on July 31 under Resolution No. 1287 to investigate recent events in Suwayda.
The committee has been tasked with uncovering the causes and circumstances surrounding the clashes, documenting violations and attacks on civilians, and referring those responsible to the judiciary.
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