Tensions in Suwayda are at an all-time high after a protester was killed by security forces during a protest in Suwayda city—the first casualty since the protest movement first broke out in August last year. On 28th February, protesters attempted to enter a regime-affiliated settlement center in central Suwayda when retreating security forces fired into the air; one ricocheted bullet hit and later killed 52-year-old Jawad al-Baroudi. Despite calls for protests to stay peaceful from pro-movement Sheikh of Wisdom Hikmat al-Hijri, the incident sparked angry reprisals from protesters who then stormed local Ba’ath Party offices. Later that same day, local anti-regime armed groups launched a series of night-time attacks against regime intelligence and security buildings in and around the city. The risk of escalation in Suwayda has arguably never been higher since the start of the protest movement.
Protest Shooting
On 28th February, activists and political blocs in Suwayda city held a demonstration outside the 7th April Hall in central Suwayda, the site of a regime-backed settlement center that intermittently opens to allow residents to purportedly “settle their status” with regime security agencies. Around 70 demonstrators gathered outside the building late that morning, chanting slogans calling for the overthrow of the regime but otherwise remaining in place.
Shortly afterwards, however, another group of protesters arrived and headed directly for the entrance. As these protesters attempted to force their way into the hallway’s entrance, retreating guards fired shots in the air to force back the crowd. Some of these bullets ricocheted, injuring two protesters. One of them, Jawad al-Baroudi (52), was hit in the chest and taken to Suwayda city’s National Hospital, where he died shortly afterwards. After news of al-Baroudi’s death spread, protesters angrily took to the streets. Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri declared that he would honor al-Baroudi as a “martyr,” but called on demonstrators to remain peaceful. Held the next day, al-Baroudi’s funeral was attended by hundreds of civilians and several prominent Druze leaders.
Retaliations
Another group of protesters arrived at the Ba’ath Party’s Western Division headquarters near Tishreen Square, then empty of staff or security guards. Demonstrators stormed the building and destroyed much of its contents, including desks and computers. The documents they found were tossed from the windows and onto the streets outside. Later that day, masked armed groups launched a wave of attacks against regime intelligence agencies, military units and other security bodies in and around Suwayda city.
After six months on the streets, protesters appear to regard the Ba’ath Party as an illegitimate, unwanted presence in the province. This is especially significant given that the regime is now laying the groundwork for parliamentary elections set to take place nationwide later this year: Bashar al-Assad has attempted to use previous local and national votes to reactivate and rebolster the Ba’ath as an additional layer of patronage, legitimacy and control across Syria in recent years.
