Al-Suwaydaa bloody clashes | Nearly 45 fighters backed by “military intelligence” and local militiamen killed and injured

SOHR sources have reported that local factions in Al-Suwaydaa continue to blockade the leader’s house “Raji Al-Falhout,” leader of an armed group backed by military intelligence, in Atil town north of Al-Suwaydaa.

The bloody clashes in the vicinity of the armed group’s leader’s house lasted from Tuesday night until Wednesday morning. Loud explosions have been heard from one time to another, caused by the use of rocket shells during the clashes so far.

Accordingly, the casualty toll of the armed group backed by military intelligence and local militiamen has risen to 13 deaths and over 30 injuries; they are as follows:

• Nine fighters of Raji Al-Falhout faction.

• Four local militiamen who attacked Al-Falhout headquarters in Salim and Atil towns.

It is worth noting that the death toll is believed to rise because some of people are seriously injured.

Yesterday, SOHR activists documented the death of ten local gunmen and members of Military Security groups in clashes in Salim and Atil towns in Al-Suwaydaa.

According to reliable SOHR sources, six members of “Rajy Al-Falhot” faction were killed and four local gunmen who stormed “Al-Falhot” headquarters were killed in Salim town, in addition to the injury of nearly 20 people on both sides.

SOHR activists reported violent clashes with Al-Fajr Forces of the Military Security, where the assailants burned the regime headquarters in the region, where “Al-Falhot” members fled towards Al-Suwaydaa city to be pursued by local gunmen.

This came after security tension in several areas in Al-Suwaydaa, amid the cutting of Damascus and Al-Suwaydaa road, and other roads that lead to the centre of Al-Suwaydaa city, after Al-Fajr Forces arrested several residents of Al-Shahba.

Moreover, groups of the “Military Security” established several checkpoints on the road linking Shahba and Al-Suwaydaa and near Atil town and on Al-Haj road at the entrance of the western Al-Suwaydaa city, where these groups inspected the residents as they pass through checkpoints.

On July 24, SOHR activists monitored continuation of tension in Al-Suwaydaa province coinciding with the cutting of the road linking Damascus and Al-Suwaydaa, where local and civil groups in Al-Suwaydaa kidnapped three officers in Shahba city including two colonels and a lieutenant and a policeman, responding to a faction of the Military Security arresting young men from Shahba city in Al-Suwaydaa countryside, to pressure the faction to release them.

SOHR sources reported that residents and armed local groups from Al-Suwaidaa province have blocked Damascus-Al-Suwaidaa highway, protesting the arbitrary arrest of two young men from Shabaa city in Al-Suwaidaa province by a group led by a man known as “Raji Falhout.” Meanwhile, the group, which is affiliated to the military intelligence branch, has deployed several checkpoints on Damascus-Al-Suwaidaa highway and in the surrounding areas of Al-Suwaidaa city and Atil town, where members stationed at these checkpoints have imposed strict security measures on passers-by.

On July 23, SOHR sources reported that tens of residents from Shabaa city in Al-Suwaidaa province gathered on Damascus-Al-Suwaidaa highway, near Salakhed junction, protesting the arbitrary arrest of two young men from Shabaa city by a group led by a man known as “Raji Falhout.” It is worth noting that this group is affiliated to the military intelligence branch.