The 'National Investigation Commission' into the acts of violence that occurred in Syria's Suwayda province last year affirmed that accountability 'will reach those who ignited sedition and incited it, and there will be no tolerance for anyone who committed a violation.'

The Ministry of Justice had announced the start of trial sessions for the accused, as of July 1. Local sources in Suwayda considered that accountability 'if conducted legally to achieve justice and fairness, would be an important step towards solving the Suwayda problem,' while other sources questioned 'the government's seriousness in prosecuting the accused.'

Additional security measures around the Palace of Justice after the explosion (AFP)

The spokesperson for the 'Investigation Commission,' lawyer Ammar Ezzeddine, told 'Syria News' channel that the commission ensured adherence to the conditions of fair trials, stressing the importance of public trials.

He announced that the second session of trials will be on July 13, and attendance at trial sessions is open to those who wish, noting that the number of defendants in the Suwayda events 'cannot be counted at the current stage due to ongoing investigations.'

He stressed that the state 'is serious about accountability for all perpetrators of violations, and that arresting any person does not mean that they have been proven to have committed violations before completing investigations.'

Ezzeddine explained that dozens of defendants from various parties 'are currently undergoing trial procedures, and the rule of law is applied to everyone without exception regardless of rank or position.' He added: 'Accountability will reach those who ignited sedition and incited it, and we stress that there will be no tolerance for anyone who committed a violation, and we are keen to ensure a fair trial for victims and defendants.'

In July 2025, the predominantly Druze Suwayda province in southern Syria witnessed acts of violence that resulted in the deaths of more than 2,000 people, including 789 Druze civilians, according to Syrian media. The 'National Investigation Commission,' formed by Syrian authorities, documented at least 1,760 deaths, according to a report it presented last March.

Elements of gunmen loyal to Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri during a patrol in Suwayda (Archive - AFP)

The commission had announced after its formation that it was preparing a 'list of suspects from the Ministries of Defense and Interior, Druze factions, and civilians including Bedouins and tribes, accused of committing serious crimes and violations.'

On Friday, the head of the 'Investigation Commission,' Judge Hatem al-Naasan, said in a statement published by the Ministry of Justice on its accounts: 'The Military Public Prosecution has begun referring a number of individuals to the investigating judge,' noting that some cases have been referred to the 'Military Criminal Court in Damascus.'

Al-Naasan added that the court began considering them 'in public sessions starting from July 1 with the presence of the defendants and their lawyers, in accordance with the procedures stipulated in the applicable laws and guarantees of fair trial,' explaining that the purpose of these procedures is 'to verify the facts and hold accountable anyone whose responsibility for any violations is proven... regardless of their status or the entity to which the acts are attributed.'

For his part, a political activist in Suwayda, who preferred not to be named, considered the government's announcement 'a decent attempt, but it is not up to the level of the event because the issue is more complex than a matter of criminal trials, and the scene is more political than criminal.'

Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri surrounded by his followers from the 'National Guard' (Suwayda 24)

The activist added to 'Asharq Al-Awsat': 'What happened in Suwayda was the result of a dysfunction, and all parties bear responsibility for it. The de facto authority in Suwayda bears a large part of this responsibility, but the largest part is borne by the state as the sponsor of all citizens in the country.'

The activist considered the implementation of the 'roadmap' announced last September from Damascus to resolve the Suwayda crisis with American and Jordanian support, 'a necessary matter, but the implementation of the roadmap is subject to the standards of the conflict with Israel, which uses the province as a bargaining chip on issues related to Mount Hermon and its violations in southern Syria.'

A local source in Suwayda city, opposed to the policies of the head of the Druze Unitarian sect, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, and the so-called 'National Guard' that controlled large parts of Suwayda following the outbreak of the crisis, affirmed: 'We are in favor of holding accountable those involved in the recent events from both sides, with the exception of those who were defending their homes, families, and country.'

However, the source, who preferred not to be named, added to 'Asharq Al-Awsat': 'We do not see that the government is serious about holding accountable those responsible for the crimes committed in Suwayda; it is just media coverage.' He pointed out that 'those arrested are a small part of the perpetrators and they incriminated themselves with videos spread from their mobile phones, and despite nearly a year passing since the events, we have not heard of anyone being tried.' At the same time, the source considered that accountability 'if it proceeds in a fair legal manner, and to achieve justice and fairness, it would be an important step toward solving the Suwayda problem.'

Syrian security forces near a road sign in Suwayda city on July 15, 2025 (Reuters)

For her part, Ms. Maysaa al-Abdullah, a resident of Suwayda city, questioned 'the seriousness of the Syrian government in prosecuting those accused of committing acts of violence in the province.'

She told 'Asharq Al-Awsat': 'My position and attitude towards what is happening in Suwayda are known: I am against the position of the factions here, and at the same time, the authority has not taken any step that would make the locals here trust it, and it contributes to alienating Suwayda from itself, from Damascus, and from Syrians. It is unknown whether this is done intentionally or unintentionally,' as she put it.