ALBAWABA- Two civilians were killed on Tuesday when unidentified gunmen opened fire on a passenger bus traveling along the Suwayda–Damascus highway, Syrian security officials confirmed.
The attack, carried out by two assailants on a motorcycle, marks the latest in a string of violent incidents undermining recent efforts to stabilize the southern province.
Major General Hussam al-Tahan, head of internal security in Suwayda, described the assault as a “cowardly terrorist attack targeting innocent civilians in an attempt to destabilize security and terrorize citizens.”
Speaking to the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), he vowed that authorities would “pursue the perpetrators and bring them to justice.”
The Ministry of Interior had announced in August that the strategic road, vital for trade and transport, was fully secured after months of suspension due to unrest in the area.
However, Tuesday’s attack highlights persistent insecurity, particularly from armed gangs and outlaw groups active in the province.
“This heinous act comes just two days after similar attacks on civilians and patrols in Suwayda’s countryside,” al-Tahan added, accusing “organized gangs” of seeking to sow chaos.
Security forces have launched an investigation and deployed additional patrols along the highway. Suleiman Abdul Baqi, director of Suwayda’s Internal Security Directorate, told state television that checkpoints would be reinforced to “ensure complete stability.”
The province, home to a large Druze population, has witnessed repeated bouts of violence. In July, clashes between Druze factions and Bedouin clans left hundreds dead before a ceasefire was reached.
The new Syrian administration, which assumed power after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December, has been struggling to restore order in the war-torn south.
