- February 26, 2026
- 12:29 pm
- Middle East
In Syria, a prisoner exchange is beginning between representatives of the Druze community in the province of As-Suwayda and the central authorities in Damascus. According to the agreements reached, 61 residents of the region will be released in exchange for 30 Syrian security personnel.
This concerns people who found themselves on different sides of the conflict after armed clashes last summer — one of the most tense episodes of the southern Syrian crisis in recent years.
How the conflict in As-Suwayda led to a prisoner exchange
A week of fighting that changed the situation in southern Syria
Clashes in the province of As-Suwayda began in July last year as local skirmishes between Druze formations and Bedouin groups. However, the situation quickly got out of control.
Syrian security forces joined the confrontation, after which the conflict escalated into full-scale hostilities that lasted about a week and affected both the city of As-Suwayda and surrounding settlements.
After the fighting ended, dozens of people were taken prisoner.
Residents of the province were transported to prisons in the Damascus area, where they were held for several months. At the same time, Syrian security personnel were held by armed Druze formations.
These forces operated under a unified structure known as the ‘National Guard’ — a coalition of local factions formed in August last year. It included various armed groups, including one of the most influential — the ‘Men of Dignity’ movement, led by the Druze leader al-Hijri.
In fact, these formations controlled the situation in As-Suwayda for a long time.
Who is al-Hijri and why are the negotiations difficult
Al-Hijri is considered one of the most hardline and uncompromising leaders of the Druze community towards the authorities in Damascus.
His position has long complicated any attempts by the central government to restore full control over the region without a new forceful scenario.
According to Israeli media, the current negotiations are significantly broader than a simple prisoner exchange. A possible new model of governance for the province is being discussed, which could reduce the risk of renewed escalation.
Such processes are closely monitored today by regional analysts and diplomatic structures, as southern Syria is directly linked to the security of Israel and the entire border area.
In this context, the editorial team of NAnews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency previously noted that any agreements around the Druze areas of Syria inevitably become part of a broader regional security architecture.
Possible political compromise: autonomy without separation
What Damascus offers
According to sources in the Syrian security services, the discussed scheme involves expanding the powers of local authorities in the field of security and administrative management.
In exchange, Druze leaders must abandon demands for actual self-governance or any separatist initiatives. The province formally remains under the sovereignty of the central government of Syria.
One of the key elements of the proposal is the deployment of exclusively internal security forces in the region without the introduction of regular army units.
This approach is seen as a way to reduce tension and avoid a repeat of armed clashes.
An attempt to change the balance within the Druze community
Sources claim that the Syrian authorities are striving to establish direct dialogue with representatives of the local society while reducing the influence of religious and political figures who do not recognize the legitimacy of the current leadership of the country.
Primarily, this concerns supporters of the hardline stance associated with al-Hijri.
At the same time, Damascus, according to interlocutors, is not ready to move to the practical implementation of agreements without external guarantees of non-interference by regional players.
Observers believe that this refers to countries closely monitoring developments in southern Syria — primarily Israel, for whom the stability of the Druze areas remains a sensitive security issue.
Why this exchange is important for the region
The prisoner exchange itself appears to be a humanitarian step, but its significance is much broader.
It could become the first real signal of an attempt at political de-escalation between Damascus and the Druze forces after months of tension.
If the agreements are fulfilled, As-Suwayda may receive a limited model of internal governance without a new military conflict — a scenario that is currently seen as a compromise for all parties.
Events around the Druze province show that the Syrian conflict is gradually moving into a phase of local agreements, where regional balances, border security, and the influence of external Middle Eastern players play a decisive role.
