Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has strongly condemned the recent violent attacks on seven journalists in Sweida, a city in southwestern Syria. These journalists were targeted by members of a local armed faction while covering a local agreement intended to deescalate violence in regions around Damascus and the southeastern governorate of the country. This development raises acute concerns regarding journalist safety as Syria navigates a precarious political transition.
The agreement they were reporting on involved action from Syria’s new transitional government along with religious and militia leaders, representing a move towards order following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024. Instead of peace, however, journalists have become targets. Two journalists in particular – Ahmad Falaha from France 24’s Arabic service and Moawiya Atrash from Arte – faced extreme threats, including being arrested and threatened with execution.
The journalists’ predicaments were echoed by Ibrahim Trissi and Ammar Stifi from Al Araby TV, who were threatened at gunpoint while donning press identification. Additionally, Mohamed Haroun and Ali Najjar from Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath were physically assaulted, and freelance reporter Amer al Assi was similarly targeted. The interventions from local residents, political figures, and religious authorities helped extract them to safety, with Syria’s Minister of Information, Mohamed al-Omar, condemning the attacks and affirming a commitment to protecting media workers.
This incident is part of an ongoing pattern of threats against journalists, following similar events in March 2025 when several were injured during clashes on the coast. Despite assurances from Mohamed al-Omar in January that the government is committed to fostering press freedom, RSF contends that such assurances remain largely unfulfilled. Syria continues to rank poorly in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index by RSF.
In response to the latest assaults, RSF has reiterated its call for substantive reforms from the transitional government to safeguard press freedoms and protect journalists. RSF outlined seven specific recommendations, crucial among them the immediate release of 20 journalists detained by rebel groups, and justice for the 181 journalists killed under Assad’s regime. They also urge transparency on the fates of at least 25 disappeared media workers.
RSF insists on more profound structural reforms to prevent a regression into repression, akin to what was experienced under the Assad regime. Additional measures suggested involve dismantling all forms of censorship, ensuring operational safety for journalists, and embedding press freedom within a constitutional framework, securing these rights legislatively.
For further detail, see the full coverage on JURIST’s report.