Security escalation in Sweida countryside with shelling and tensions among residents
May 6, 2025, 11:05 am

Security escalation in Sweida countryside with shelling and tensions among residents

السويداء

The Western Sweida countryside has experienced recent security escalation, with the village of Harran subjected to mortar shelling last evening, Monday, by armed factions affiliated with the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Interior. This is the second attack within days, amid heightened tension and anticipation in the area.

Monitoring groups from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights indicated that several shells fell around residential neighborhoods, with no confirmed casualties so far. Concerns are growing over the potential expansion of clashes and the resurgence of hostilities. The shelling coincided with a state of alert among local armed groups, who are closely monitoring the situation, amid ongoing security tension and calls to de-escalate and calm the region.

On another note, the area has recently seen acts of violence, including the burning and vandalism of the Shrine of Prophet "Al-Khidr" in the town of Al-Sura Al-Kubra in northern Sweida countryside. This religious site is considered sacred by many locals, especially Druze communities, and the attack has sparked widespread anger.

Meanwhile, the regions of Dahrab Sweida have witnessed escalating tensions, with clashes between the Badi tribes and Druze fighters, leading to the displacement of many families to safer areas. Additionally, armed clashes occurred between allied forces of the Ministry of Defense and local Druze fighters in the village of Buraq, resulting in the death of a member of the allied forces.

In the same context, the village of Thala was targeted with mortar shells from groups linked to the General Security Forces, amid ongoing clashes on the Thala, Am Wulad, and Al-Dara axes. These events reflect the increasing tension and significant deterioration of security in the region.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”