People chant slogans and wave the opposition flag during a gathering against the Syrian government in the Syria's southern city of Suwayda on December 6, 2024. (AFP Photo)
By Newsroom
Dec 7, 2024 11:43 AM
Syrian opposition forces in southern Syria have gained control of Suwayda city, the administrative center of Suwayda province.
Local sources confirmed the development, highlighting that the predominantly Druze-populated city is now under the control of opposition forces.
Suwayda city in southern Syria now under opposition control
The opposition groups, largely composed of local fighters, had previously demanded the withdrawal of Syrian regime forces from the city.
On Dec. 6, 2024, during a meeting with government representatives, they gave a 24-hour ultimatum for regime troops to leave the area. When the deadline passed, the opposition forces seized control of the city.
The fall of Suwayda city is a significant shift in the ongoing Syrian civil war. Opposition forces have been gaining ground across multiple regions in Syria, with intense clashes continuing between opposition and regime forces.
An aerial picture shows members of Syria’s White Helmets civil defence service clearing vehicle carcasses and rubble from a street in Aleppo on December 5, 2024. – Islamist-led rebels captured the central Syrian city of Hama on December 5, days after seizing the country’s commercial hub Aleppo in a lightning offensive against President Bashar al-Assad’s forces. (Photo by OMAR HAJ KADOUR / AFP)HOMS, SYRIA – DECEMBER 6: Anti-regime armed groups, opposing the Bashar al-Assad regime, advance inner parts of Homs, Syria on December 6, 2024. ( İzettin Kasım – Anadolu Agency )A Syrian anti government fighter shoots against a large banner bearing a picture of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad, hanging on the facade of a municipal building in the west-central city of Hama on December 5, 2024. – Islamist-led rebels captured the central Syrian city of Hama on December 5, days after seizing the country’s commercial hub Aleppo in a lightning offensive against President Bashar al-Assad’s forces. (Photo by Bakr ALKASEM / AFP) / The erroneous PHOTOGRAPHER appearing in the metadata of this photo has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [Bakr ALKASEM] instead of [Rami AL SAYED]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require.HOMS, SYRIA – DECEMBER 6: Anti-regime armed groups, opposing the Bashar al-Assad regime, advance inner parts of Homs, Syria on December 6, 2024. ( İzettin Kasım – Anadolu Agency )
Shift in power in southern Syria
Suwayda, which has remained relatively calm compared to other conflict zones in Syria, became a flashpoint after a series of opposition victories across the south.
The city’s fall comes after opposition forces in Daraa province launched a successful operation on December 6, retaking the provincial capital from government forces.
Local Druze groups, historically neutral in the conflict, have increasingly joined the opposition.
People chant slogans and wave the opposition flag during a gathering against the Syrian government in the Syria's southern city of Suwayda on December 6, 2024. (AFP Photo)
