Suwayda governorate witnessed a detainee swap today, Thursday, February 26, between the Syrian government and the "National Guard," resulting in the release of dozens of detainees from both sides.
A total of 61 detainees from Suwayda were released in exchange for 30 members of the Ministries of Defense and Interior who had been held by the "National Guard," under understandings reached after several negotiation rounds mediated by the United States.
The exchange took place at al-Matounah checkpoint (north of Suwayda governorate, southern Syria), under the supervision of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The Damascus, Suwayda road also saw a security deployment by Internal Security forces and the Military Police to secure the detainees' arrival and ensure the agreement was carried out.
The state-run al-Ikhbariya channel reported that Internal Security forces, in cooperation with the Military Police, secured the transfer of 61 detainees from Suwayda to the exchange site in preparation for completing the swap.
US mediation and earlier talks
This step follows negotiations mediated by the United States between the Syrian government and the Druze spiritual leader, Hikmat al-Hijri, against the backdrop of tensions that the governorate witnessed in July 2025.
Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported on February 24, citing an unnamed source, that Washington was mediating between the two sides on a single issue, detainees and prisoners, with the aim of reaching a swap agreement.
According to the source, the understandings stipulated the release of 61 civilians from Suwayda who were being held in Adra Prison (Rural Damascus), in exchange for the "National Guard" releasing 30 members of government forces.
July events
The roots of tension in Suwayda go back to the period that followed the fall of the former regime.
The new administration sought to integrate local factions into state institutions, but this step faced difficulties due to the failure of local actors to reach consensus on implementation mechanisms.
Events escalated last July with the entry of Syrian army forces into Suwayda city.
The government said the aim was to end clashes that had erupted between armed groups from the Druze community, which makes up the majority of the governorate's residents, and armed Bedouin groups.
The entry of government forces was accompanied by accusations of violations against civilians, which, according to local sources at the time, contributed to the expansion of clashes inside the city.
Later, Israel carried out airstrikes targeting sites belonging to government forces.
Israel said the strikes were carried out in the context of protecting the Druze, and they included targets in the capital Damascus as well as sites inside Suwayda governorate.
Government forces then withdrew from the city center and redeployed in the western countryside, where they took control of a number of villages.
Tensions continued, with reported violations and reciprocal acts of violence.
This was accompanied by tribal mobilization from different areas, which contributed to the continuation of clashes during that period.
Opening channels of communication
For its part, the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation reported that negotiations, sponsored by the United States, are taking place between the Syrian government and leaders from local factions in Suwayda.
The talks aim to reach a political and security settlement in the governorate.
According to Israeli media reports citing the broadcaster's report, the discussions focus on granting broader security and administrative powers to local bodies.
They also include some parties stepping back from demands related to self rule or any separatist tendencies, while keeping the governorate under the authority of the central government in Damascus.
The broadcaster quoted an unnamed Syrian security source as saying the Syrian government is seeking to open channels of communication with representatives of the Druze community, as part of an attempt to broaden the base of local understandings.
The source added that proposals on the table include deploying Internal Security forces inside the governorate without bringing in regular military units, in a step aimed at avoiding any new escalation.
The source, according to the report, indicated that the Syrian government is linking progress on these understandings to obtaining guarantees related to the non-interference of external parties in the file.
