Syrian security frees kidnapped civilians in Sweida and hands them over to their families
The internal security forces in the Syrian province of Sweida announced today, Saturday, August 23, a successful operation that led to the liberation of a number of kidnapped civilians and their handover to their families.
The announcement of the operation was made by the head of the internal security forces in the province, Brigadier General Ahmad al-Dalati, during a video broadcast by the official Syrian News Channel on the platform "X".
Al-Dalati reported that the incident occurred ten days ago when the kidnapped individuals were on their way to the province of Sweida coming from the city of Sahnaia in the rural area of Damascus.
In response to the incident, Al-Dalati said: "We received a report about the kidnapping of a bus, and we mobilized and followed up on the details of the incident".
He explained that the liberation operation was carried out "after diligent efforts and security follow-up in cooperation with the internal security leadership in Daraa, we were able to obtain information about the family's presence in areas of our Bedouin people".
The security leader revealed that the motives behind the kidnapping were related to a crisis of kidnappings within the province, stating: "Those who took them have hostages inside Sweida and they were being extorted and unable to reach their families," considering that "the issue of kidnapping is condemned and denounced".
He pointed out that communication with the kidnappers (who were not named) was the key to the solution, explaining: "We were able to communicate with them through some channels and return the kidnapped individuals to their families safely".
Al-Dalati noted that the freed hostages mentioned that they were "treated (by the kidnappers) well," but he stressed that "this file must be closed quickly".
He concluded his statement by calling on the families of the missing, saying: "Anyone who has missing persons in Sweida should approach the state, which will fulfill its responsibilities with all its efforts to ascertain their fate and return them".
This announcement comes amid security conditions that remain fragile in the province, where Sweida has witnessed a ceasefire since July 19, following a week of armed clashes that left hundreds dead.
