Commander of Sweida Military Council reveals ceasefire violations

Amid the military escalation that began on July 13 between the forces of the transitional government and affiliated militants on the one hand, and the local military forces in Sweida on the other, the two sides reached a sort of internationally sponsored ceasefire agreement last Saturday, according to both parties. However, the region continues to witness security tensions, a siege, and renewed clashes.

Regarding the current situation, the commander of the Sweida Military Council, Tariq al-Shoufi, said in a special telephone statement to ANHa agency that "the situation on the ground in Sweida remains unsafe," noting that "the attacking forces have not adhered to the truce and have committed several violations documented in audio and video, targeting innocent civilians in villages adjacent to the fighting fronts."

Al-Shoufi affirmed that "the tribal forces, supported by government forces, bear responsibility for these violations," noting that "the attacks have not stopped yet, and the attacking forces continue to reinforce their positions with weapons, supplies, and personnel, particularly in the villages of Rima Hazem and Umm al-Zeitoun, where they burned down homes and residential buildings."

He added that "all the villages controlled by the attacking forces witnessed the burning and looting of homes and the theft of residents' property." He emphasized that the Military Council continues to exercise restraint and prevent escalation until a final solution is reached, despite what he described as "a humanitarian catastrophe whose effects will not disappear for decades."

Al-Shoufi called on the international community to "increase pressure on the attacking forces to immediately cease fire," stressing that "several reports have been submitted to international bodies regarding what he described as the systematic genocide against Druze, Christians, and other minorities, in addition to the arbitrary arrests and executions targeting civilians on sectarian grounds."

He explained that "coordination between the Military Council and religious and civil organizations is at its highest level," reiterating his demand for "international guarantees to end the conflict and prevent a recurrence of the violations that led to the genocide against members of the Druze community."

Al-Shoufi also called on the international community to "assume its responsibilities and pressure the interim government to immediately withdraw its forces from the province," urging the media to report the truth and document the "humanitarian catastrophe" being experienced in Sweida at the hands of extremist and government forces.

The commander of the Sweida Military Council, Tariq al-Shoufi, concluded by saying, "Sweida today is a disaster-stricken city, lacking the basic necessities of life. It is besieged on all sides, and the government hospital has been burned and destroyed. We appeal for urgent medical and humanitarian aid."

Sh-S

ANHA