Suwayda forms temporary Executive Office and security leadership amid rising instability

SUWAYDA, Syria — In a significant move reflecting Suwayda’s push toward self-organized civil and security governance following recent military escalations and a deteriorating relationship with the central government in Damascus, the Higher Legal Committee — affiliated with the Druze spiritual leadership — has announced the formation of a temporary Executive Office to oversee the governorate’s affairs. The announcement also included the appointment of a new commander for the Internal Security Forces.

Details of the decision were published in an official statement on the Committee’s website.

The statement emphasized that Suwayda is entering a critical phase in the wake of serious violations committed by Syrian government forces and affiliated armed groups. These developments, the Committee said, demand a coordinated and organized response to ensure the population’s safety, secure essential services, and maintain the integrity of local institutions.

The Committee’s mandate includes overseeing Suwayda’s administrative, security, and service sectors, protecting both public and private property, combating corruption, and addressing injustices affecting all components of the local community.

The outlined action plan involves the creation of specialized subcommittees dedicated to a variety of sectors: coordinating relief efforts, documenting rights violations, tracking disappearances, supporting the families of victims, organizing donations, and managing critical services such as healthcare, education, economic development, and environmental protection.

The formation of this temporary structure is seen as part of a broader initiative by local actors to assert more autonomous governance in the face of ongoing instability, while working to preserve the security and social cohesion of the governorate.