Sweida

Also known as Suwayda, al-Suwayda, al-Suwayda

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, shows women and children who has been liberated from the Islamic State group in the Hamima area east of the historic town of Palmyra, Syria on Nov. 8, 2018. (SANA via AP)

November 8, 2018, 8:02 pm

Syria says military freed Druze hostages from Islamic State

State media claims troops liberated remaining 19 women and children abducted by jihadist group in July, but war monitor says prisoner swap ended ordeal

By Albert Aji and Bassem Mroue

This photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA on October 20, 2018, shows Abeer Shalgheen and her four children after being freed by the Islamic State jihadist group that kidnapped them on July 25 during a raid by the extremists on the southern province of Sweida, Syria. (SANA via AP)

October 20, 2018, 8:23 pm

Islamic State frees 6 Syrian Druze women, children in deal with Assad regime

Monitor says IS to receive 60 of its prisoners, $27 million as part of swap for members of ethno-religious minority taken captive in the war’s deadliest attack on the community

By Bachir El Khoury

September 7, 2018, 1:37 pm

In first since 2010, Israeli Druze leaders visit compatriots in Syria

‘We’re visiting our relatives and holy sites,’ says organizer of trip that violates Israel’s enemy states law. ‘I see nothing wrong with that’

By TOI staff

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, mourners from the Druze community attend a mass funeral of people killed a day earlier by a series of suicide bombings launched by the Islamic State's fighters on the eastern and northern countryside of the southern province of al-Sweida, Syria, on July 26, 2018. (SANA via AP)

August 5, 2018, 9:40 am

Islamic State said to execute Druze hostage from Syria’s Sweida

Family of teenager reportedly receive videos of his final words, decapitation; terror group kidnapped over 30 following attack that killed more than 250

By AFP

In this Tuesday, July 17, 2018, photo, released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian troops flash the victory sign next to the Syrian flag in Tell al-Haara, the highest hill in the southwestern Daraa province, Syria. (SANA via AP)

July 31, 2018, 6:09 pm

South Syria jihadists say they will trade kidnapped Druze for evacuation

War monitor says Islamic State fighters are trapped in last pocket of Daraa province after Russian-backed regime offensive

By AFP

An Israeli soldier guides a mobile artillery piece near the border with Syria in the Golan Heights, July 25, 2018. (AP/Ariel Schalit)

July 31, 2018, 6:54 am

Amid Assad offensive, Israel said to close border to Syrians seeking treatment

Operation Good Neighbor reportedly frozen for first time in five years as regime forces complete takeover of area from rebel groups

By TOI staff

Syrians, displaced by fighting in the country's southwest, approach the border fence between Syria and Israel the Syrian village of Bariqu in the southern province of Quneitra, on July 17, 2018 (AFP /JALAA MAREY)

July 31, 2018, 6:16 am

Israel said to be trying to prevent massacre of Syrians on Golan Heights border

Israeli officials reportedly ask Russia to ensure Assad forces don’t harm civilians as they complete takeover of area from rebel groups

By TOI staff

Syrian troops raise the Syrian flag in the border town of Quneitra in the Syrian Golan Heights on July 27, 2018. (AFP Photo/Youssef Karwashan)

July 31, 2018, 3:13 am

Syria boots IS from Golan Heights, retaking full control of frontier with Israel

Assad forces complete six-week-long bloody campaign to regain command of war-torn country’s southwest corner for first time in seven years

By AP and TOI staff

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrians inspect the site of a suicide attack in Sweida, Syria, July 25, 2018. (SANA via AP)

July 30, 2018, 5:14 pm

Dozens of Druze women, children kidnapped by IS in southern Syria

Residents of Sweida and monitor group say kidnappings took place during attack by jihadists last week that left over 250 dead

By Layal Abou Rahal

July 28, 2018, 5:04 pm

10,000 Israeli Druze hold solidarity rally for community battered by IS in Syria

About 250 Syrian Druze were killed this week in Islamic State attacks — the biggest blow they’ve suffered in 7 years of civil war

By TOI staff and AFP

July 26, 2018, 7:36 pm

Islamic State attack leaves Syrian Druze reeling from largest losses of war

Monitor raises death toll in Sweida to 246 as members of minority group bury the dead; Russia, Hezbollah condemn assault

By Maya Gebeily

July 26, 2018, 2:23 am

Islamic State kills hundreds in assault on southern Syria Druze city

Bombings and raids on Sweida and surrounding towns called one of deadliest attacks in history of civil war; Syria blames countries ‘supporting terror’ in likely jab at Israel

By AFP

July 25, 2018, 2:14 pm

Dozens killed in suicide bombings in southern Syrian Druze area

Blasts in city of Sweiba apparently timed to coincide with attacks by a group linked to IS on a number of nearby villages

By Albert Aji

Syrian rebel fighters ride a tank in Daraa, southwestern Syria, on June 23, 2018. (AFP / Mohamad ABAZEED)

June 24, 2018, 2:11 am

Russian jets bombard southern Syria for first time as offensive looms

Airstrikes target areas near Daraa as regime looks to retake strategic region bordering Israel and Jordan, ending ceasefire brokered between Moscow, Washington and Amman

By AFP

Supporters of Syrian President Bashar Assad hold his portraits and wave Syrian flags during a demonstration in support of his candidacy for presidential election in Suweida town, southern Syria, May 31 2014 (Photo credit: AP Photo/SANA)

June 19, 2018, 6:37 pm

Syrian Druze city shelled for first time in years as fighting intensifies

Last time Sweida came under assault from Syrian rebels, the Israeli Druze community called on Israel to intervene

By AFP and TOI staff