Addressing members of the U.S. Congress directly, Colonel Suleiman Abdul Baqi, Director of Internal Security in Suwayda, discusses security developments in the governorate, civilian protection, freedom of movement, and plans to integrate Suwayda residents into state institutions. He also emphasizes support for stability, accountability for violations, limiting foreign intervention, and strengthening institutional integration as part of addressing security concerns in the governorate.

00:10–02:56 | Recent Clashes and Casualties

Colonel Abdul Baqi discusses the timeline of the latest clashes and presents the Internal Security Directorate’s account of the actors responsible for the escalation. He states that the Directorate documents the incidents and says approximately ten Internal Security personnel were wounded in the latest clashes, describing their injuries as minor.

02:56–05:08 | Civilian Protection and Security Guarantees

Abdul Baqi discusses the protection of civilians in villages and areas where state institutions are present. He says security authorities are attempting to prevent clashes from expanding in order to protect residents. He also addresses the movement of students and patients, access to services, and travel into and out of Suwayda city.

05:08–07:32 | Local Security Structures and Negotiation Channels

This section addresses the future of local security structures composed of Suwayda residents, existing coordination with groups inside the governorate, and channels of communication with local and armed actors. Abdul Baqi emphasizes that, in his view, security activity should be integrated within state institutions.

07:32–09:50 | Security Conditions and the Roadmap

Abdul Baqi describes challenges involving roads, checkpoints, and public services, as well as what he considers necessary for the successful implementation of the Suwayda roadmap. These include addressing local concerns, supporting stability, and expanding integration into state institutions.

09:51–12:45 | A Direct Message to the U.S. Congress

In the concluding section of the interview, Colonel Suleiman Abdul Baqi addresses members of the U.S. Congress, referring to previous meetings he says he attended in Washington with various U.S. institutions.

His message centers on four principal themes: supporting stability in Syria, limiting foreign interventions that he says are complicating the situation in Suwayda, holding accountable those responsible for violations against all components of society, and enabling meaningful integration of Suwayda residents into state institutions, particularly the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defense, and Internal Security.

Abdul Baqi presents such integration, from his perspective, as one of the principal tools for addressing local concerns and strengthening trust and security within the community.

Relevance for Congressional Review

The interview provides the perspective of a Syrian security official directly involved in developments in Suwayda. It represents the views of the interviewee and does not, by itself, constitute independent verification of all claims concerning armed groups or foreign intervention.

For Congress, the interview raises several issues that can be monitored over time, including civilian protection, freedom of movement, the level of armed escalation, implementation of the roadmap, integration of Suwayda residents into state institutions, and progress toward accountability for violations committed against all communities.