Three members of the Internal Security Forces were killed and others wounded on Thursday, September 17, during clashes with an armed group in al-Sanamayn (northern Daraa, southern Syria), as security personnel carried out an operation to arrest a wanted man.

The Internal Security Forces said in a statement that one of its patrols came under attack by an armed group it described as “outlawed,” led by a wanted man, while carrying out the operation, triggering clashes between the two sides.

It added that security forces were continuing their deployment in al-Sanamayn and pursuing members of the group and those involved in attacking the patrol. The Internal Security Command in Daraa governorate imposed a temporary curfew in the city until the security situation stabilizes.

The Internal Security Forces confirmed that they would “continue pursuing those involved in the attack and take legal measures against them.”

Three Internal Security Members Killed

Enab Baladi’s correspondent in Daraa reported that the clashes broke out on Thursday morning during a raid by the Internal Security Forces to arrest a wanted man affiliated with a group led by Mohsen al-Haymad.

The correspondent said the clashes had resulted, as of the time of publication, in the deaths of three Internal Security Forces members, Salloum al-Masalmeh, Nael al-Safadi, and Mustafa Saad al-Din, in addition to injuries among other personnel.

According to the correspondent, the clashes took place between the security force and armed members of al-Haymad’s group as the Internal Security Forces attempted to arrest one of the wanted men.

Internal Security imposed a curfew in the city following the clashes, while security reinforcements were also sent to al-Sanamayn, the correspondent said.

Schools in the city were also closed on Thursday, with classes suspended until the curfew is lifted and movement inside the city is permitted again.

The number of casualties among the armed group remained unclear as of the time of publication. The Internal Security Forces also did not announce further details about the identity of the wanted man whom the security unit had been attempting to arrest.

Renewed Confrontation With al-Haymad’s Group

The latest clashes follow a series of confrontations and security operations in al-Sanamayn over recent months, in which Mohsen al-Haymad and his group have been a principal party.

In March 2025, Internal Security carried out a security campaign in al-Sanamayn targeting local groups, including al-Haymad’s group, while also searching for weapons that had not been handed over at settlement centers. The confrontations resulted in deaths and injuries at the time, before Internal Security imposed a curfew and surrounded the group’s positions inside the city.

The following day, Internal Security entered al-Sanamayn’s western neighborhood, where groups affiliated with al-Haymad had taken positions. The operation ended with security forces reasserting control over the city and arresting dozens of people, while Mohsen al-Haymad fled to an unknown location, according to Enab Baladi’s correspondent at the time.

The operation was preceded by an agreement in January 2025 that halted clashes in the city following the assassination of local commander Fahd al-Dhiyab. The agreement stipulated a ceasefire and the handover of heavy and medium weapons by the factions, while allowing them to retain light weapons at the time.

The Military Operations Administration later opened weapons handover centers in al-Sanamayn following clashes in the city between local groups and a group that had previously been linked to Military Security under the ousted regime.

Continuing Security Tensions

Security tensions in al-Sanamayn did not fully end after the previous security campaign. In July, two people were killed in a shooting in the city, and a local source said the two had previously been linked to Mohsen al-Haymad’s group.

Previous reports also documented the continuation of assassinations and disputes involving local groups in the city. During earlier periods, al-Sanamayn saw confrontations between groups linked to al-Haymad and others affiliated with commander Ahmad Jamal al-Labbad.

These incidents point to the continued security challenges in al-Sanamayn despite previous campaigns and weapons collection operations, with armed confrontations between security forces and local groups once again returning to the forefront.