ROCHELLE JUNIOR

Sweida – Residents question the safety of the Damascus-Sweida road, now under HTS oversight, after past massacres and violations. On August 27, the Syrian Interim Government announced the road’s reopening following over a month of closure due to security concerns.

 

Despite government assurances of safety, locals remain skeptical. Many say the road is still dangerous and that the authorities charged with its security are the very same actors they cannot trust. For thousands of students, patients, and traders, this route is a vital lifeline—but a clear gap remains between official statements and reality.

 

No trust in Authorities

 

Hiyam Al-Nimr, from Najran village, recalled: “They entered our homes, humiliated us, looted our property, burned our farm, and kidnapped us. These were people who once worked with us. How can we trust them now?”

 

She added that reopening is a media attempt to improve the government’s image while violations continue. “The day after the announcement, three people were kidnapped,” she said.

 

‘We want dignity and safety, not a media show’

 

Juri Arij, another local woman, said, “From the first day they entered Sweida, civilians were killed. We fear poisoned food or attacks on our men. We have no trust in them.”

 

Nawal Ata emphasized that the road does not serve residents’ interests. “How can a road reopen while our women are still kidnapped? We want dignity and safety, not a media show,” she said.

 

Residents call for a secure humanitarian crossing to Daliyat al-Karmel, reflecting their complete loss of trust in HTS. Repeated abuses, contrasting sharply with government statements, have destroyed any hope of building trust in the authorities.