Government forces evacuate checkpoints in Syria’s Suwayda
SUWAYDA, Syria (North Press) – The Syrian government forces removed on Monday military checkpoints in villages in the western countryside of Suwayda, southern Syria, following anti-government protests.
A local source told North Press that the government forces evacuated the checkpoints in the village of Khalkhalah, Sawra al-Kubra, Majadil and al-Mtoneh in the north of Suwayda.
He added that the checkpoint in the village of al-Mjemir in the south of Suwayda was also evacuated.
He noted all these checkpoints are adjacent to Daraa Governorate, southern Syria.
The government forces evacuated from these checkpoints regrouped in the Khalakhalah air base in the north of Suwayda, the source said.
On Aug. 30, the government forces evacuated checkpoints in the southern countryside and in Zahr al-Jabel in the east of Suwayda and regrouped them in the Sad al-Ain area near the city of Salkhad.
The people of Suwayda fear the repositioning of the government forces in certain areas where the locals demanded the “Syrian regime to leave” in the protests.
Recently, the government force removed several of its checkpoints and posts in the Daraa al-Balad without stating the reasons.
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.