The failure to release Syrian Civil Defense volunteer Hamza al-Amareen, during the detainee exchange carried out on Thursday, February 26, in Suwayda governorate in southern Syria has raised concerns among activists and those close to him about his fate.
Ahmad al-Zoubi, a media officer at the Syrian Civil Defense, told Enab Baladi that the organization was surprised by al-Amareen's absence from the list of those released. He added that they had contacted most of the freed detainees, but none were able to provide information about him.
Al-Zoubi said the Civil Defense had demanded his release, contacted international organizations, and worked to ensure his name was included on both the internal and external exchange lists.
For its part, the Syrian Civil Defense renewed its condemnation of al-Amareen's disappearance, describing it as "a crime that constitutes a blatant violation of all humanitarian norms and international laws that guarantee the protection of humanitarian workers."
The organization called for the immediate and unconditional release of volunteer al-Amareen.
In a statement, it said al-Amareen "dedicated his life to saving others and was always among the first responders in the most difficult circumstances, carrying the banner of humanity above all else."
It added that targeting him is "an attack on all the values we believe in and on everyone striving to build a safe and dignified future for Syrians."
Listed but Not Released
Qutaiba Azzam, Director of Public Relations at the Suwayda Media Directorate, told Enab Baladi that al-Amareen's name had been included on the exchange lists but that he was not released.
He added that dozens of detainees remain held by what he described as "outlaw groups," referring to factions operating under the name "National Guard."
Under US mediation, a detainee exchange took place between the Syrian government and the National Guard faction. The deal secured the release of 61 detainees from Suwayda in exchange for 30 members of the Ministries of Defense and Interior who had been held by the National Guard.
The National Guard is a coalition of local factions in Suwayda that consider Druze spiritual leader Hikmat al-Hijri their religious authority.
Assigned to UN Evacuation Mission
On July 16, 2025, the Syrian Civil Defense tasked Hamza al-Amareen with evacuating United Nations staff in the city of Suwayda, in response to a UN call for assistance following clashes between Syrian government forces and local factions that erupted earlier that month.
In October 2025, Amnesty International called on local armed factions in Suwayda to immediately release al-Amareen, who heads the Emergency Response Center of the Syrian Civil Defense in Izra city (in Daraa governorate, southern Syria).
Background on Suwayda Events
The events in Suwayda began on July 12, 2025, following mutual kidnappings between residents of the al-Maqous neighborhood in Suwayda, which has a Bedouin majority, and members of the Druze community. The following day, the incidents escalated into armed clashes.
On July 14, the Syrian government intervened to contain the conflict. However, its intervention was accompanied by violations against Druze civilians, prompting local factions, including some that had been cooperating with the Ministries of Defense and Interior, to respond.
On July 16, government forces withdrew from Suwayda after coming under Israeli strikes. This was followed by retaliatory violations against Bedouin residents in the province, leading to the mobilization of tribal armed convoys described as "tribal reinforcements" in support of them.
Subsequently, the Syrian government and Israel reached a US mediated agreement to halt military operations.
