Local faction dissolves government-backed group in Syria’s Suwayda
SUWAYDA, Syria (North Press) – Men of Dignity Movement announced in a statement on Friday that an armed force affiliated with the Military Security Branch of the Syrian government forces in Suwayda, southern Syria, pledged to dissolve itself.
The Men of Dignity is a self-defense militia established after the outbreak of the Syrian war to defend the Suwayda area. Described as a terror organization by Russia, it took an initial position against the Syrian government in the early days of the war but did not engage in any armed struggle with government forces.
On August 11, local factions supported by Men of Dignity Movement controlled offices of an armed group affiliated with the Military Security led by Raji Falhout in the town of Qanawat in the northern countryside of Suwayda.
The Movement said on its official Facebook account that the group led by Kifah al-Hamoud, close to Raji Falhout, pledged to dissolve itself and not to form any new military formation.
The agreement stipulates “The group hands over its weapons to the Men of Dignity within five days,” according to the statement.
A local source told North Press that the House of Falhout in the town of Atil in the northern countryside of Suwayda welcomed, “clearing the Jabal al-Druze of the gangs, affirming their disavowal of the so-called Raji Falhout, leader of armed groups affiliated with the Military Security.”
Suwayda witnesses a state of anticipation after the expulsion of the groups affiliated with the government forces from the governorate, amid calls to continue pursuing all those involved, and rejecting the policy adopted by the authorities against the residents of Suwayda.