On Tuesday, armed clashes broke out in the city of Sweida, southern Syria, as a group attempted to rescue a young man who had been held captive by a militia associated with Hikmat al-Hijri, a prominent Druze leader. Reports indicate that a militia from the village of Labin in the western Sweida countryside targeted a facility belonging to the so-called National Defense Forces, resulting in violent confrontations and injuries, although details remain sparse regarding the number of casualties.

In further developments, a truck driver was reported killed and his companion injured after they were shot in areas controlled by the National Defense Forces while traveling from Damascus to Sweida. This incident adds to the already tense atmosphere in the region, which has been troubled by a history of violence and power struggles among various local groups and the state.

In a related context, reports have emerged indicating that the United States is playing a mediating role between Hikmat al-Hijri and the Syrian authorities to facilitate a prisoner exchange related to previous violent incidents in the Sweida province over the summer. An anonymous source familiar with the negotiations indicated that the U.S. has been actively involved in these discussions, highlighting the ongoing complexities of the Syrian conflict and the international interest in addressing local disputes.