Damascus appoints local Druze leader to oversee security in Sweida
Syrian authorities announced on Tuesday the appointment of a local Druze leader as head of internal security in the southern city of Sweida, following deadly communal clashes in July. The move is seen as an attempt to ease tensions in the province, where Druze fighters control the city while Damascus maintains authority over surrounding areas.
State television reported that Souleiman Abdel-Baqi has been named to lead Sweida’s security operations. Abdel-Baqi heads a local armed group considered loyal to the authorities, in contrast to other Druze factions that have often been at odds with the central government.
The decision comes ahead of a meeting in Damascus between Syrian Foreign Minister Assaad al-Chaibani, his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi, and U.S. envoy Tom Barrack, as regional and international actors seek to prevent further escalation in southern Syria.
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