Three members of Syria's security forces killed in southern Syria attack by outlawed group

It remains unclear who the perpetrators were in the clash in southern Syria. There are tensions closer to Israel in villages near Quneitra, where locals complain of weekly IDF raids and shelling.

Three members of the Syrian Internal Security Forces were killed in the Daraa countryside, around thirty kilometers from the Golan border.

Reports from Syria say the incident happened in the city of Sanamayn, about sixty kilometers south of Damascus.

According to ANHA news, “three members of the Internal Security Forces were killed, and others were injured during a security raid on a house in the city of Sanamayn in the northern Daraa countryside, which was followed by clashes with a number of wanted individuals, amid heightened security tensions and a curfew imposed in the city.”

Syrian state media SANA reported similar information. Noting that the forces were searching for a wanted individual. “An outlawed armed group led by the wanted individual opened fire on a security patrol and clashed with members of the patrol as they carried out the operation, according to a statement.”

The report did not identify the outlawed group. In Syria, there are terrorist groups such as ISIS that have targeted security forces in the past.

The government media report added that “security forces remain deployed across al-Sanamayn and are pursuing members of the group and others involved in the attack," the statement said. “The Internal Security Command in Daraa province imposed a temporary curfew in al-Sanamayn until the security situation stabilizes.”

Syria says that it will “continue to pursue all those involved in the attack and take the necessary legal measures against them,” the Internal Security Forces said.

Victims identified as Mustafa Saad al-Din, Salloum al-Masalmeh, Nael al-Safadi

ANHA named the three members of the security forces as Mustafa Saad al-Din, Salloum al-Masalmeh and Nael al-Safadi. It said the killings were the result of a clash when the forces raided a house. “Saad al-Din was from the village of Hamer in the al-Lajat area of the Daraa countryside, while al-Masalmeh was from Daraa al-Balad and al-Safadi was from the city of al-Hara.”

The situation in the city appears tense, hence the curfew. “The Internal Security Forces Command in Daraa province said it was following up on the repercussions of the armed clash that took place in Sanamayn early today, stressing that ‘the law is above everyone’ and noting that it would continue to follow up on the incident and take the necessary measures,” ANHA added.

Daraa province is the major province in southern Syria. Its capital is the city of Daraa near the Jordanian border. The province is also near the Golan border with Israel and also near the Druze area of Suwayda. As such, it is an important part of Syria at the intersection of trends in the country. During the Syrian civil war, much of the province was held by rebels.

Daraa province fell to rebels following collapse of Assad regime

The rebellion has roots in Daraa city, where early protests against the regime began. It is thus a symbolic area. In 2018, the Syrian regime retook Daraa from the rebels. Later, the province fell to rebels again as the Assad regime collapsed in December 2024.

Israel has demanded that southern Syria be largely demilitarized. This means the Interior Ministry forces are the main force in the area. These are lightly armed. It also means that there are security threats. These may include ISIS cells or drug smuggling gangs. Damascus has accused elements in Suwayda of being involved in drug smuggling. Jordan has busted numerous smuggling attempts, including the use of balloons to move captagon and other drugs.

It remains unclear who the perpetrators were in the clash in southern Syria. There are tensions closer to Israel in villages near Quneitra, where locals complain of weekly IDF raids and shelling.