The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

“Sheikh al-Karama” forces increase level of preparedness to deal with regime forces

 The Syrian Observatory has monitored today clashes with machine guns between local factions in Sweida and members of a regime checkpoint on Al Ain road near the city of Salkhad, south of the province. Four members of local factions were killed, while one regime soldier was killed and others were injured.

The incident has led to heightened security tension in Salkhad city and countryside, as well as discontent among Sweida’s people. Meanwhile “Sheikh al-Karama” forces have increased their level of preparedness after the killing of their four members.

On March 22, reliable sources informed SOHR that local gunmen affiliated to “Sheikh Al-Karama forces” in Al-Suwaidaa province swapped prisoners with regime intelligence. According to SOHR sources, regime intelligence released a young man from Al-Suwaidaa’s Salkhad and who was affiliated to local factions there. Local factions in the province responded to the arresting of the young man by capturing five regime officers, two members affiliated to the Lebanese Hezbollah and a volunteer in regime military intelligence.

The young man was released yesterday just after the factions had released the regime officers and Hezbollah-backed members.