Al-Suwaydaa has seen significant security tension, after protesters attacked the government Al-Saraya building with stones, while some young men stormed it and tore up the picture of Bashar Al-Assad, demanding the overthrow of the regime.

Protesters burned a security vehicle, damaging other cars after security forces stormed a crowd of demonstrators and fired bullets to disperse protesters in the city.

Protesters moved from Al-Mashnaqah roundabout, the “main centre of protests,” to Al-Seer square in Al-Suwaydaa city centre, and lit rubber tyres.

Protesters at the demonstration denounced poor living conditions, held up banners and chanted slogans calling for improvement.

As-Suwayda is a mainly Druze city located in southwestern Syria, close to the border with Jordan.

The city has been held by the Assad regime for the duration of the Syrian Civil War and has seen relatively little fighting.

On 7 June 2020, anti-government protests erupted in the city due to the deteriorating economic situation.

Protesters demanded the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad for the first time since 2015 in the city which had remained neutral during the Syrian civil war.

As a result of the protests, Prime Minister Imad Khamis was sacked on 11 June and replaced by Hussein Arnous. (ILKHA)