26 February 2026 Damascus – Today, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) facilitated the release of 86 detainees between Damascus and Sweida. Of those released, 61 were transferred to Sweida and 25 to Damascus.
“We would like to thank all parties who played a role in reuniting families who have spent months anxiously waiting for their relatives,” said Stephan Sakalian, head of the ICRC delegation in Syria.
“The ICRC hopes that this operation will pave the way towards possible further releases and dialogue between all parties on other humanitarian concerns, including on the fate and whereabouts of people gone missing in relation to the hostilities in southern Syria since July 2025,” he added.
The ICRC carried out the operation at the request of – and in close coordination with – the parties, acting in its role as a neutral intermediary. Prior to the release, ICRC teams conducted interviews with each detainee to confirm their consent to the transfer and assess their medical condition.
Throughout the operation, the ICRC has prioritized the safe and dignified transfer of detainees. Specialized staff, including medical personnel, were present to provide immediate care and assistance where necessary. Two ambulance teams from the Syrian Arab Red Crescent accompanied the buses to ensure emergency response capacity.
Since the outbreak of hostilities in southern Syria in July 2025, the ICRC has engaged closely with all relevant parties and affected communities to respond to urgent humanitarian needs. This included visits to places of detention in both Sweida and Damascus to monitor the situation of the detainees and enable them to exchange news with their families.
