SDC urges constructive dialogue over armed confrontation in As-Suwayda 

In a statement issued today regarding the recent events in As-Suwayda, the SDC said:

"The SDC is following with deep concern the rapidly unfolding developments in As-Suwayda Governorate, which pose serious threats to civil peace and national unity, and add a new wound to Syria’s already exhausted body after years of war and division.

The ongoing escalation, regardless of its motivations, cannot be separated from the broader trajectory of the Syrian crisis and the absence of just political solutions that could end the suffering and open a genuine path toward change. Yet we at the SDC believe that being dragged into armed confrontation and the normalization of violence serves no one's cause. It only leads to further tension and fragmentation at a time when Syria needs to heal its wounds, not deepen them.

In this context, we condemn the involvement of elements from the Syrian regime’s security apparatus in fueling this internal conflict. We consider such actions dangerous and inconsistent with the responsibilities of any accountable government, which should prioritize the protection and safety of its citizens, not use its security institutions to inflame divisions. Any governmental intervention that fosters violence or deepens societal fractures is a blatant violation of the state’s duty to its people and exposes the country to further chaos.

We also warn of the dangers of sectarian rhetoric and hate speech accompanying these events. It is imperative to avoid this perilous path, which has historically fueled conflict in Syria. The unity of the Syrian people cannot be built on sectarian incitement but rather on the foundations of citizenship, equality, and mutual respect.

We call on all parties, in As-Suwayda and throughout Syria, to engage in immediate de-escalation, exercise restraint, and embrace constructive dialogue over armed confrontation.

We also stress the need to initiate responsible efforts to defuse tensions and address the real causes of crises through political and peaceful solutions that prioritize people’s dignity and their fundamental needs.

Syria today faces a historic opportunity to emerge from its crisis, but this requires a high level of national responsibility and a collective prioritization of the Syrian people's interests over narrow agendas. A new Syria cannot be built through internal conflict but through convergence based on diversity, justice, and democracy.

The SDC reaffirms its steadfast position advocating for intra-Syrian dialogue, rejecting violence, and respecting the will of all peoples and communities. We believe that any internal escalation, anywhere in the country, weakens the prospects for a solution and serves only the interests of forces that seek to prevent Syria’s recovery.

We value the wise voices coming from As-Suwayda that call for de-escalation, and we stand in solidarity with its people in their pursuit of rights and dignity, far from coercion and force.

We call on all our fellow citizens to work together for a new Syrian phase, one based on reconciliation and change, not conflict and attrition."

A-H 

ANHA