Suwayda governorate (southern Syria) witnessed separate security incidents within less than 24 hours, including an explosion and gunfire targeting National Guard members affiliated with Hikmat al-Hijri, the spiritual leader of the Druze community in the governorate.

The “Suwayda 24” page, active in the governorate, reported that the home of Rawad Abdul Khaleq, commander of the “Rapid Intervention” battalion in the “National Guard,” came under fire on Tuesday, April 28.

“Suwayda 24” added that the shooting coincided with a Molotov cocktail being thrown at the car of commander Farouk al-Naddaf. This came one day after another commander’s car, belonging to Basel al-Shaer, was targeted.

Enab Baladi’s correspondent said the governorate witnessed two separate explosions within less than 24 hours, with no casualties reported. She added that an explosive device detonated in a car belonging to Farouk al-Naddaf, who serves as a commander in “Brigade 111” in the “National Guard” affiliated with Hikmat al-Hijri.

Another explosion, also caused by an explosive device, occurred on Monday morning, April 27, in the car of Basel al-Shaer, who is close to Hikmat al-Hijri’s movement. Damage from both explosions was limited to property damage, with no casualties reported.

Security developments in Suwayda remain subject to a media blackout, according to Enab Baladi’s monitoring, while journalists and activists prefer that their names be withheld when relaying information from inside the governorate.

The governorate has continued to witness security incidents since the outbreak of the Suwayda events in July 2025.

Car Explosion in al-Qurayya

A car exploded on February 16 in the center of al-Qurayya town in Suwayda governorate, causing the deaths of two young men, Jawad Bassem Awwad, aged 15, and Taim Hamad al-Halh, aged 19.

Qutaiba Azzam, public relations official in Suwayda governorate, told Enab Baladi that a public taxi carrying weapons and ammunition exploded in al-Qurayya, south of Suwayda.

He explained that the explosion occurred beside the tomb of Sultan Pasha al-Atrash in the town, which is under the control of the “National Guard militia,” according to his wording.

The “al-Rased” network, active in the governorate, quoted a medical source as saying that Awwad died in the National Hospital in Suwayda city after suffering severe injuries to his body as a result of the explosion.

Al-Halh was dead on arrival at the hospital after the explosion of his private car, in which Jawad Awwad had been accompanying him.

“Al-Rased” reported that the car exploded near the monument in al-Qurayya town, amid a lack of information about the cause of the explosion.