A prisoner and captive exchange took place today between the Syrian government and the National Defense Forces in Sweida, resulting in the release of 61 detainees in exchange for 25 captives.
Today marked the commencement of a prisoner and captive exchange between the Syrian government and the so-called 'National Defense' Forces in the Sweida province. Al Jazeera correspondent Milad Fadl reported live from the region, noting that several buses arrived at the exchange point carrying detainees previously held by the Syrian government. This exchange involved the release of 61 detainees in exchange for 25 individuals detained by groups that the Syrian government classifies as lawless entities in Sweida, among whom were members of the defense and interior ministries who had been detained during recent security tensions and clashes in the area.
The exchange was secured by a heavy presence of security forces and military police along the Damascus-Sweida route to facilitate the process. Emergency vehicles and personnel from the Red Crescent and civil defense accompanied the convoys to prepare for any unforeseen incidents. Fadl also highlighted that the exchange was occurring at one of the last locations controlled by government forces before local groups’ territories, signaling heightened tensions and a careful operational atmosphere surrounding the exchange.
As the situation unfolds, there is a palpable sense of anticipation and monitoring within the local community, reflecting the ongoing complexities and hostilities that characterize the region, particularly amid the backdrop of ongoing conflict in Syria. The deal underscores the fragile nature of security in Sweida and presents an avenue for potential negotiations in the future between conflicting entities in the area.
