In a major blow to the Assad regime, the anti-regime Karama Conglomerate in Al Swaidaa’ province has declared Jabal al-Arab a liberated region after revolutionaries finished the role of pro-regime “security committees” that previously dominated the province.
The announcement followed the outbreak of large-scale protests on Friday evening in the predominantly Druze city of Swaidaa’ in response to the assassination Sheikh Wahid Balous, a prominent cleric in an explosion that claimed the lives of 25 others.
Activists said that revolutionaries took full control all regime’s security branches in the city.
A statement issued by the Karama Conglomerate calls on all people of Jabal al-Arab region to defend their city, stressing that Swaidaa’ is an integral part of Free Syria part and stands firmly against all forms of terrorism and tyranny. It also stresses that Swaidaa’ will remain a hospitable shelter for its guests and their property until they return safely to their homes.
Suheir Atassi, member of the Syrian Coalition’s political body, said the regime’s assassination of the Balous backfired, as it fueled unrest in Swaidaa’ province which has risen against the Assad regime’s criminality and repression.
Atassi warns that the Assad regime may resort to the strategy that it has always used against rebellious areas, that is allowing ISIS to infiltrate Swaidaa to cause chaos. She calls on the international community to immediately intervene and prevent the Assad regime from taking vengeance on civilians in Swaidaa’ province.
The Syrian Coalition on Friday condemned the assassination of Sheikhs Wahid Balous and Fadi Naim, extending sincere condolences to the families of the victims. It holds the Assad regime responsible for this heinous crime against Balous, one of the most prominent Al Karama clerics of the Druze sect. He sought diligently to thwart the regime’s attempts to implicate the Sweidaa’ youth in its crimes against Syrians. (Source: Syrian Coalition)
