A security services agent from Syria has been arrested after killing four civilians in the predominantly Druze province of Suwayda during a violent incident.

An employee of the Internal Security Directorate in Suwayda has been detained after allegedly shooting four civilians, seriously injuring a fifth person.

The incident took place in the village of al-Matana, an area that has witnessed deadly violence in the past. The victims, who were picking olives with the authorization of the authorities, were attacked while in an area controlled by government forces. The Druze region of Suwayda, which has escaped the control of Islamist authorities from Damascus, has been the scene of violent confrontations in the past, and the situation remains unstable following the deployment of government forces.

Although plans have been announced for pacifying the region, tensions persist, and minorities in Syria continue to be concerned about their situation following the takeover by Islamists.