The situation in the province center of As Suwayda, located in the south of Syria, has normalized on Monday after riots and clashes with security forces. Spiritual leader of the Highlander-Druze community Sheikh Yousef Jarboua told Al Watan.
"External forces took advantage of people' dissatisfaction with deteriorating socio-economic situation," he stressed. - "They provoked riots in government offices and attacks on police officers." According to the sheikh, "this was done to destabilize the situation and sow confusion."
"We condemn those who participated in the riots and caused material damage," the spiritual leader said. - "All problems in the difficult conditions that Syria faces because of the blockade should be solved through dialogue and not push the country into chaos."
Shootings between armed activists and security forces occurred in the city on Sunday. Two people were killed, including one security guard, and six others were wounded. According to Al Watan, crowds of intruders stormed the local administration building, setting fire to archives with documents, breaking glass, and damaging furniture and equipment. The Arab republic's interior ministry promised to "catch all the criminals and bring them to justice."
Before the seizure of the building, a protest rally took place in the city center attended by about 200 people. Locals expressed dissatisfaction with rising prices of food and basic commodities. Multiple demonstrations were held in As Suwayda in February and July. The demonstrations were social in nature and protesters demanded better living conditions, an indexation of wages, the renewal of subsidies for basic products and a solution to the problem of water supply in the province.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Karl Forster\Pixabay
Based on materials TASS