Insecurity in Southern Syria: The Case of Quneitra and Suwayda (April – June 2021)

Since the summer of 2018, the security situation in southern Syria has continued to deteriorate, which threatens to cause severe repercussions on the ground by undermining the fragile peace and the reconciliation agreement between the people of Daraa and Quneitra governorates, and the Assad regime. The escalations and security chaos are due to several reasons, most notably the regime forces’ attempts to enter new areas or weaken the local leaders refusing to hold the presidential elections. The neighboring As-Suwayda governorate is also witnessing a similar security deterioration. High crime rates and tension between various armed groups, stemming from difficult economic conditions and service crises prompted many local residents to join Russian mercenary companies to fight in other countries. This report highlights the most prominent security events that occurred on the ground in Quneitra and As-Suwayda governorates.