Tragedy in Sweida: 4 Farmers Killed in Al-Mutuna; Security Officer Detained as Suspect Amid Rising Tensions

The village of Al-Mutuna in northern Sweida was the scene of a brutal attack on Saturday, February 7, 2026, leaving 4 civilians dead and one critically injured while harvesting olives. In a rare move toward immediate accountability, Brigadier General Husam Al-Tahan, head of Internal Security in Sweida, announced the arrest of a security officer suspected of carrying out the shooting, based on eyewitness testimony from a survivor.

This incident threatens the fragile stability of southern Syria, where a localized ceasefire has been in place since the political shifts of late 2024. While the central authorities urge "restraint" and promise justice regardless of the perpetrator’s affiliation, the crime has ignited local anger. Tensions remain high between the Internal Security Forces and local groups loyal to Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, raising fears that this "individual act" could trigger a broader security collapse in the governorate.