Multitudes of individuals call for the removal of military forces from southern Syria by the government.
In the heart of southern Syria, the city of Suwaida has been the centre of ongoing protests since early August 2025. Hundreds of civilians, including women and children, have taken to the city's main square, demanding the withdrawal of Syrian government troops from the city and the opening of humanitarian corridors, specifically to Jordan.
The current unrest follows a series of violent clashes in mid-July between the Druze religious minority and Sunni Bedouin tribes. Despite a ceasefire that was established on July 20, the humanitarian situation in the region remains catastrophic, according to aid organisations.
The protesters carry placards with demands such as "End the siege" and "Open humanitarian corridors to Jordan". They are urging the Syrian government to alleviate the embargo on the region and enable aid delivery. The siege-like conditions imposed by government restrictions have exacerbated the humanitarian needs, leading to the displacement of over 175,000 people, as estimated by the United Nations.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that more than 1400 people have died as a result of the violence. Armed groups allied with the authorities are reportedly controlling traffic on the Suwaida-Damascus road, creating a blockade. Some international aid deliveries are reportedly reaching the region despite the blockade.
The Syrian interim government has accused Druze fighters of closing the roads, while government troops intervened on the side of the Bedouin tribes. Israel is said to have supported the Druze. The protesters, however, claim that the aid received in the region is not sufficient.
Nureddin al-Baba, the Interior Ministry spokesman, questioned how trade could resume if armed groups beyond the law control the region. Rawan Abu Assaf, an activist, demanded the lifting of the siege of Suwaida province and the withdrawal of government troops from all villages.
As of now, there is no indication yet that the Syrian government has agreed to these demands. The reports by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights cannot be independently verified. Protests also took place in other cities with Druze populations on Friday, according to the Observatory. However, no new information was provided about any new protests in these cities.
The community in Suwaida city is calling for the implementation of a policy that ensures economic and social cohesion, as employment policies become increasingly vital in their demands due to the ongoing protests against Syrian government troops. Amidst the catastrophic humanitarian situation brought about by war-and-conflicts, politics, and general-news events, the protesters are urging for policies that can alleviate the embargo on the region, enable aid delivery, and open humanitarian corridors, specifically to Jordan.
