Syria Civil Defense loses contact with team leader
The Syria Civil Defense lost contact with one of its senior responders in Suwayda during a UN evacuation mission, amid ongoing clashes between Bedouin tribal fighters and Druze armed factions in southern Syria.
The organization announced in a statement that it had been unable to reach Hamza al-Amareen, head of an emergency response center, since July 16. A local woman who was with him in the vehicle said armed men stopped them, forced him out, and took the car.
A brief phone call had been made the following morning, during which a man answering al-Amareen's phone said he was 'safe.' No further communication followed.
Meanwhile, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) reported in a statement that several aid workers had been assaulted, an ambulance had come under fire, and a warehouse along with nearby vehicles had been burned.
SARC expressed deep concern over the worsening conditions and called for the protection of civilians and relief workers, reaffirming its principles of neutrality and impartiality. The organization said it would continue providing emergency support in Suwayda and Daraa, while prioritizing volunteer safety.
بيان منظمة #الهلال_الأحمر_العربي_السوري بخصوص تعرّض متطوعيها ومنشآتها لانتهاكات في المنطقة الجنوبية.A Statement Regarding Violations Against #SyrianArabRedCrescent Volunteers and Facilities in Southern #Syria. pic.twitter.com/95ZqSUUSt1
— Syrian Red Crescent (@SYRedCrescent) July 18, 2025
Earlier, the Syrian Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh confirmed in a post on X that over 570 people had been injured, 87 killed, and hundreds of families evacuated to safer areas.
منذ بداية الأحداث المؤسفة وفي ظل الظروف الأمنية والإنسانية الصعبة التي تشهدها محافظة السويداء وتلبية لنداءات المواطنيين السوريين في المحافظة، قمنا في وزارة الطوارئ وإدارة الكوارث بتشكيل غرفة عمليات مشتركة، تضم الغرفة ممثلين عن الوزارات والمؤسسات الحكومية، والدفاع المدني السوري،… pic.twitter.com/B17BcuH3bS
— Raed Al Saleh ( رائد الصالح ) (@RaedAlSaleh3) July 18, 2025
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