Sweida, April 6 (SANA) – Armed members of the so-called National Guard militia stormed the Education Directorate building in Sweida on Monday, forcing employees to leave the premises and abducting newly appointed education director Safwan Ballan, according to local officials.
Witnesses reported that the gunmen forced staff out of the building, assaulted several employees and fired shots during the incident before detaining Ballan and coercing him to step down from his position.
Sweida’s Directorate of Information condemned the incident, describing it as an act of intimidation against civilians and public servants and denouncing the abduction of the education official under threat of weapons. The directorate said such attacks target state institutions and deprive citizens of essential services.
In a separate statement, Sheikh Laith al-Balous warned that the assault on a government institution and an official performing his duties represents a serious escalation, noting that such acts undermine stability and seek to impose disorder by force.
Al-Balous called on community leaders and residents in Sweida to take a clear stance against actions that threaten the province’s stability and damage its social fabric.
Officials said the province has recently witnessed security instability linked to the presence of armed groups attempting to impose control through force, amid growing calls from local residents for the restoration of security and the activation of state institutions.
Kh.A
