Tensions escalate in Syria’s Suwayda following robbery
SUWAYDA, Syria (North Press) – The southern Syrian city of Suwayda experienced on Saturday heightened security tensions following a robbery incident that targeted a driver on the Damascus–Suwayda road.
According to the Suwayda 24 website, the incident involved the hijacking of a produce delivery vehicle and the brief abduction of its driver, which triggered a wave of retaliatory actions, including random kidnappings and vehicle detentions across the city.
Sources reported that armed men detained Fadlallah Dawara, a vegetable truck driver, for several hours in the area between Khirbet al-Shayab and Faylaq al-Awal region in the Damascus countryside. He was reportedly stopped shortly after passing a security checkpoint and was robbed of all his belongings before eventually being released.
In response, individuals affiliated with the driver set up improvised checkpoints throughout Suwayda. They allegedly abducted eight people along with their vehicles, demanding the return of the stolen truck in exchange for their release.
According to the report, the abducted individuals were from the Hasakah and Suwayda governorates.