Damascus, Druze fighters swap prisoners

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The interim government in Damascus and Druze fighters who control most of Suwayda province were carrying out a prisoner swap on Thursday following talks reportedly mediated by the United States.

Syrian state media aired footage of buses transporting 61 civilians from the Druze-majority province of Suwayda who had been detained during last year’s clashes between the Syrian army and Druze fighters led by spiritual leader Hikmat al-Hajri. In exchange, 25 members of forces affiliated with Damascus are set to be released.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is supervising the process.

"Today, we facilitated the release of 86 detainees between Damascus and Sweida. Of those released, 61 were transferred to Sweida and 25 to Damascus," said ICRC in a statement.

“The ICRC hopes that this operation will pave the way towards possible further releases and dialogue between all parties on other humanitarian concerns, including on the fate and whereabouts of people gone missing in relation to the hostilities in southern Syria since July 2025,” Stephan Sakalian, head of the ICRC delegation in Syria, was quoted in the statement as saying. 

Intercommunal fighting erupted between Druze factions and Bedouin tribes in Suwayda in mid-July, later escalating with the involvement of Damascus forces and Israel. In a report released later that month, the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) said more than 800 people were killed and over 900 injured in the violence.

A ceasefire took effect on July 19. Since then, Syrian security forces have deployed across parts of the province, while Druze factions have retained control of Suwayda city.

Another major development following the July clashes was the formation of the National Guard — a unified local Druze paramilitary force established in late August. The body brings together more than 30 armed factions under the authority of Hajri, a prominent critic of Damascus who advocates for Druze self-determination.

Updated at 2:00 pm with ICRC statement.