Syria detains members of security forces over Suwayda violence

"Syria has arrested members of the country's security and military services as part of a probe into sectarian violence in the southern province of Suwayda earlier this year that left hundreds dead. Judge Hatem Naasan, head of a committee investigating the eruption of violence in Suwayda in July, said that members of security services and the military who were proven to have committed violations based on findings and videos posted online had been detained."

"Videos that surfaced online had shown armed men killing Druze civilians kneeling in public squares and shaving the moustaches off elderly men in an act of humiliation. Naasan did not specify how many arrests were made. Nor did he announce a death toll, saying this would come in the final report that is expected by the end of the year."

"Videos posted on social media clearly showed faces, and they were detained by the authorities concerned, Naasan said, adding that security personnel were detained by the Interior Ministry while members of the military are being held by the Defence Ministry. He acknowledged that some foreign fighters randomly and individually entered the city of Suwayda, saying that some had been detained and questioned. He stated that none of them were members of the Syrian armed or security forces."

Syrian authorities arrested security and military personnel in a probe of sectarian violence in Suwayda. Detentions relied on findings and videos posted online showing faces; the Interior Ministry detained security personnel and the Defence Ministry held military members. Videos showed armed men killing Druze civilians kneeling in public squares and shaving moustaches off elderly men. Arrest numbers and a death toll were not specified; a final report is expected by year end. Some foreign fighters entered Suwayda and were detained; none were members of Syrian forces. Fighting followed the abduction of a Druze truck driver, drew in Bedouin tribal fighters, and ended with a weeklong ceasefire. Israel launched air attacks and struck the Syrian Ministry of Defence.

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