Syrian regime guards injure three protesters in As-Suwayda with live gunfire

AS-SUWAYDA, Syria — In a troubling turn of events on Wednesday, protesters attempting to close the Baath Party Branch headquarters in As-Suwayda, Syria, were met with gunfire from the party’s guards. The clash resulted in injuries to three demonstrators, escalating tensions in the region.

Protesters have been rallying against the Syrian government since 17 August, demanding that the head of the Syrian regime Bashar al-Assad step down and for a political transition as outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 2254 be implemented.

The demonstrators have remained committed to peaceful protests, despite mounting frustrations over the lack of progress.

مراسلنا: المشاهد الأولى لإطلاق النار من حرس مبنى قيادة فرع حزب البعث في مدينة السويداء، لتفريق مجموعة من المحتجين كانوا يحاولون إعادة إغلاق المبنى.

يتبع.. pic.twitter.com/Lhhu5IJErO

— السويداء 24 (@suwayda24) September 13, 2023

The latest incident unfolded after protesters gathered in Al-Karama square in As-Suwayda, where they received information that the Baath Party Branch headquarters had been reopened by the Syrian government. Determined to shut it down once again, the protesters marched towards the building.

Eyewitnesses reported that as protesters attempted to storm the party’s headquarters and even sought to destroy a statue of former president Hafez al-Assad, guards stationed at the facility opened fire. The sudden and unexpected gunfire sent shockwaves through the crowd, resulting in minor injuries to three protesters.

The injured demonstrators were promptly rushed to the National Hospital of Shahba for medical treatment. Their conditions were reported to be stable, but the incident has fueled outrage among the protesters and raised concerns about the potential for further violence in the region.

مراسل السويداء 24: تسجيل ثلاث إصابات كحصيلة أولية لإطلاق النار من عناصر حزب البعث في مدينة السويداء. الإصابات كانت متوسطة بالرصاص الحي والشظايا، وتم نقل المصابين إلى مشفيي شهبا والسويداء. pic.twitter.com/8hPkRSWqSm

— السويداء 24 (@suwayda24) September 13, 2023

Local and international observers are closely monitoring the situation, calling for restraint and urging all parties to pursue peaceful means to address the grievances of the Syrian people. The violent clash in As-Suwayda serves as a stark reminder of the challenges in achieving a peaceful resolution to the Syrian conflict, which has persisted for over a decade.