Two members of the “National Guard,” affiliated with Hikmat al-Hijri, the spiritual leader of the Druze community, were killed and dozens of others were wounded in clashes with government forces in rural Suwayda (southern Syria) at dawn on Friday, July 3.
Local sources in Suwayda told Enab Baladi that the clashes began Thursday evening at around 10:00 p.m. and continued until 3:00 a.m. the next day, with medium weapons used.
The sources explained that the clashes took place near an Internal Security Forces point affiliated with the Syrian Ministry of Interior in Tal Hadid, west of the city.
The clashes included mortar shelling that targeted residential areas inside the city, injuring civilians.
“National Guard” forces also targeted Internal Security Forces positions with heavy machine guns.
The clashes came after “National Guard” forces targeted the al-Matouna checkpoint, affiliated with Internal Security Forces, on Wednesday, July 1.
“Guard” Began Attack on Internal Security Forces
State-run Syrian al-Ikhbariya reported that 18 members of what it described as “rebel gangs” were killed or wounded after an attack on Internal Security Forces positions on the Tal Hadid axis in western rural Suwayda.
It said members of the “rebel gangs” attempted to attack Internal Security Forces positions on the Tal Hadid axis, resulting in two deaths and 16 injuries among their ranks.
“National Guard”: Any Breach Will Face a Response
Meanwhile, the “National Guard” command in Suwayda said in a statement that it had repelled a military attack launched by government forces on the western and northwestern axes of the city.
The “Guard” described the attack as “direct aggression” and a blatant breach of existing de-escalation agreements.
The statement said government forces used drones, along with heavy fire from heavy and medium machine guns.
The shelling hit populated neighborhoods, killing one person and causing several injuries among civilians and fighters, according to the statement.
The “Guard” command said its forces launched an immediate response against the sources of fire, resulting in what it described as precise hits among government forces and the destruction of launch platforms used in the targeting, according to the statement.
Previous Tensions
Suwayda governorate has seen near-continuous security tensions and clashes between local factions led by the “National Guard” and Syrian government forces at contact points in the western countryside of the governorate.
On June 23, western rural Suwayda witnessed security tension between Syrian Internal Security Forces and members of the “National Guard,” affiliated with Hikmat al-Hijri, the sheikh of the Druze community.
Accounts differed over the reasons behind the killing of one person and the kidnapping of others in the area between al-Majdal village and the al-Mazraa area in the western countryside of the governorate.
Government Accuses “National Guard”
Qutaiba Azzam, director of public relations in Suwayda governorate, told Enab Baladi at the time that two members of local tribes were kidnapped by “National Guard” members near al-Majdal town while grazing livestock in the area.
Azzam said the body of Ayed al-Nader, 70, was found between al-Majdal and al-Mazraa after he was kidnapped by “National Guard” forces stationed in al-Majdal town.
According to Azzam, the “National Guard” stole dozens of livestock that were with the shepherds and drove them away before withdrawing from the area.
Azzam explained that the kidnapping coincided with an attempt by “National Guard” members to infiltrate from al-Majdal town toward areas under Syrian government control.
He added that the incident caused a security alert in the area, noting that the “National Guard” opened fire with medium weapons toward Internal Security Forces positions west of Suwayda.
“Guard” Accuses Government
The “National Guard,” for its part, accused members affiliated with the Syrian government’s General Security of carrying out an armed infiltration near al-Majdal town in the western countryside of the governorate.
The “National Guard” said in a statement that the operation forced its members to fire warning shots after the group approached within 300 meters of civilian homes in the area.
It added that the response by Syrian government members to the gunfire led to clashes between the two sides, noting that one of the attacking members was killed and two others were wounded.
It said its members took one of the wounded to the hospital after arresting him, in preparation for presenting him to the competent judicial authorities once his health condition stabilized.
Suwayda is currently marking the anniversary of the July 2025 events, which saw heavy battles and clashes between government forces and local factions, amid violations by both sides. The events ended with the intervention of the Israeli air force, which targeted government forces and vital sites in Damascus.
The post Suwayda Clashes Kill Two National Guard Members appeared first on Enab Baladi.