Syria begins prisoner exchange with Druze militia in south: What to know
The Suwayda area has seen significant instability since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, complicating government efforts to address sectarian factionalism.
The Syrian government began an exchange of captives with a Druze militia in the southern Suwayda province on Thursday as Damascus seeks to address ongoing sectarian tensions and establish its authority in the Druze-majority area.
What happened: Syrian forces began transferring 61 detainees to Suwayda as part of an exchange with the National Guard armed group. The detainees will be exchanged for 25 individuals being held by the Suwayda-based Druze militia, the official SANA news outlet reported.
Syrian Security Forces are transferring 61 detainees to Sweida province as part of a prisoner exchange that will see 25 captives held by the so-called “National Guard” released under the supervision of International Committee of Red Cross.#Sweida #Security_Forces#Red_Cross pic.twitter.com/ghroZSOZMk
— SANA English (@SANAEnOfficial) February 26, 2026
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that 61 civilians held in government-run prisons are being released in exchange for 30 state security personnel detained in Suwayda. The detainees were captured during fighting in the province in recent months, according to the war monitor.
The US State Department did not immediately respond to Al-Monitor’s request for comment on the Suwayda exchange.
