Swaida on The Brink of Sectarian Abyss

Swaida witnesses these days frequent fighting between the National Defense Army and Bedouin, especially in the Eastern and Western countryside, which could lead to serious sectarian conflict. The fighting between the two sides caused injuries for some people in their villages, which led them to leave the area.

An activist from the Gathering of Swaida’s Liberals confirmed to Zaman Alwasl that Bark, a small and quiet village in Eastern countryside of Swaida, was hit with 11 shells came from Tal Sa’ad in the North of the village, which caused some injuries for people, while others left the village to , the neighboring village al-Jneneh. The activist confirmed to Zaman Alwasl that shells reach the village after sever fight between the National Army and some Bedouin groups, took place at the East of Bark village.

Another source highlighted the point that Bark is a marginal and far village and there is no military points or security centre justifies attacking it by the Bedouin groups, which is consider an intruding unjustified attack.

Akram Abo Hamdan, condemned the attack and the Bedouin’s act and wrote on his facebook page: “why was quiet village attacked with blind cannon shells and innocent people died as a result of acts not related to the revolutionary movement by any mean, by groups falsely claiming to be revolutionary, it is a condemned action, and we know the background of this action which serves the regime agenda, therefore we warn all who got involved that they would have their punishment”

On the other hand, Western villages of Swaida adjacent to Eastern part of Dara’a suffer the same, however the background and aims of conflict and attacks are different. The conflict between the two parts of the two neighboring cities , has accelerated lately after tries of the FSA to Liberate Al-Kimya Battalion situated to the East of Dara’a.

Abo Marcel, an activist from The Gathering of Swaida’s Liberals, explained to Zaman Alwasl reason behind attacks in Western countryside saying: “Nazih Jabro’a, as a try to come back to lights, after freezing his responsibilities, led an attack on Bedouins’ houses in the Western neighborhood in al-Dwir village with the help of a Militia from the Air Forces Intelligence, on Wednesday 19th Feb, 2014, supported with heavy arming and Doshka vehicle, when they burned, robbed people’s houses, killed two men and a woman, and arrested five people.”

As a result of this attack, Some Bedouin tried to leave to Al-Lajat, with help from the FSA , when they trapped the National Defense army which resulted in killing a member of the Air Forces intelligence, However, they were attacked in Harran village by the NDA and responded with shooting, which led to killing Riham Wafiq Mirshid, who was falsely claimed on Alarabiya Alhadath TV to be a correspondent of Al-Ikhbariyah, the Syrian TV channel.

Abo Marcel added that regime targeted the area with shelling from al-Radar battalion in al-Door village, which resulted in falling many shells on Harran village and injured five civilians. Regime immediately started circulating news about targeting and attacking the village by the armed gangs, which stimulated people’s feelings, who gathered in the village to save their people’s lives and honor.

On the other hand, opposition's field activists declared that leaders of the FSA in al-Lajat have communicated with recognized and known people and families Heads in surrounding Western villages of Swaida, to ensure them that FSA will not let any attack or harm to happen to people in Swaida’s villages, and insisted that the war is against the regime, mentioning that regime trying its best to fire the conflict between Druze and Bedouin, or between people in Swaida and Dara’a, aiming to weakening the Eastern front of FSA. Reporting by Sara Abdul Hai; Translation by Yusra Ahmed