The assassination of Murhij al-Jarmani, the commander of a local faction in Suwayda and a strong supporter of the ongoing protests, could be a turning point for the Druze-majority province’s nearly year-long uprising. The Assad regime is accused of orchestrating the killing.
A new security checkpoint in Suwayda city sparked angry protests and armed clashes between local factions and regime forces before an agreement negotiated by local civil and religious leadership averted further escalation. The incident underscores the delicate balance of keeping the peace in the southern province.
Suwayda’s Men of Dignity faction is at the heart of recent operations against regime-linked “gangs” in the province. What does the group want? And where does it stand vis-a-vis Damascus today?
