Government forces withdraw from checkpoints in Syria’s Suwayda
SUWAYDA, Syria (North Press) – The Syrian government forces withdrew on Wednesday from a few checkpoints in Suwayda Governorate, southern Syria, which has witnessed anti-government protests for the past two weeks.
A local source told North Press that the government forces withdrew from the Wadi al-Muthlim checkpoint in the village of al-Raha and the Walgha checkpoint in the southern countryside of Suwayda. They also evacuated the checkpoint in Zahr al-Jabel in the east of Suwayda.
The source added that members of the Military Security pulled out of the checkpoint between the villages of Ariqa and Kharsa in the north of Suwayda but government soldiers remained there.
Some military posts were reinforced and government soldiers were replaced in the Sad al-Ain checkpoint near the city of Salkhad in the southern countryside, according to the source.
Small checkpoints were evacuated except for military checkpoints that include barracks, such as the Shahba checkpoint in the northern countryside and the Sad al-Ain in the southern countryside, in addition to the military checkpoint located at the entrance of al-Qalaa neighborhood inside the city.
Since Aug. 17, anti-government protests have erupted in Suwayda, demanding “the ousting of the regime” amid inaction from the Syrian government. This silence from the government made the people fearful, especially after the recent military movements.