Syria Denies Troop Entry into al-Suwayda Amid Unrest
Damascus denied reports that its forces entered al-Suwayda, saying troops are on high alert but not deployed. The Interior Ministry urged media accuracy, while President al-Sharaa affirmed protection of Druze rights amid deadly sectarian clashes that killed nearly 600.
By Kamaran Aziz
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) — Damascus has forcefully denied that its security forces have entered the southern city of al-Suwayda, refuting media reports and clarifying that troops are on high alert but have not been deployed into the city following days of deadly sectarian violence.
The denial came in a press release on Friday from Noureddine al-Baba, the spokesperson for the Syrian Ministry of Interior, who addressed what he called untrue rumors.
"We categorically deny this news and call on the media to refrain from publishing false news and information," al-Baba stated. He confirmed that while security forces have been placed on high alert, "as of now, security forces have not entered the city of al-Suwayda."
The statement follows a televised address on Thursday by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. He announced that the state had "intervened with full resolve to stop the sectarian conflict" in the southern province.
"The Druze are an integral part of Syria, and protecting their rights and freedoms is a government priority," President al-Sharaa added.
The government's response comes after severe clashes broke out between the local Druze and Bedouin communities on Sunday, July 13. The violence has resulted in a reported 600 deaths and hundreds of injuries, with Syrian army soldiers among the casualties.
Al-Suwayda is a province in southern Syria and the country's main center for the Druze ethnoreligious minority.
