Tension in Syria’s Suwayda following protests against government
SUWAYDA, Syria (North Press) – The city of Suwayda, southern Syria, undergoes a state of tension and closure of shops as military reinforcements are being deployed in the city center following protests that developed to confrontations with the Syrian government’s security forces.
A local source told North Press, “Shops were closed down and nobody is seen on the streets as protests in the city center were met by fire to disperse protesters.”
Earlier, tens of locals in Suwayda organized a protest in front of the governorate building that was met with fire in which a young man was killed and five others were injured.
The protesters, who called for improving living conditions, set ablaze and sabotaged offices in the governorate building and tore up photos of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
In the shooting ensued, Murad al-Matni was killed while five others were injured. They were taken to the city’s National Hospital to receive proper treatment.
A source told North Press that shooting was still being heard on the outskirts of the Police Command as reinforcements continued to arrive at the square of the governorate building.
Hours ago, a local source told North Press he “saw military reinforcements heading from Brigade 12, located in the town of Izraa, in Daraa Governorate, towards the of Suwayda Governorate.”
In response to the protest, Syria’s Interior Ministry said in a statement that a “group of outlaws,” some of them carried individual arms, blocked the road with burning tires next to the al-Mashnaqa roundabout in Suwayda Governorate, said the state-run SANA news agency.
The Ministry said the group went to the governorate building and injured one policeman and several citizens.
In the confrontations ensued around the police building, policeman Mahmoud al-Salmawi was killed, the statement read.
The Ministry said it would “pursue the outlaws and take legal measures against anyone who tries to tamper with the security and stability” of Suwayda Governorate and the safety of its citizens.
Amid this reality on the ground, locals voice fears of a new security campaign by the government forces in the city.