The future of Syria remains a critical question as the nation grapples with the aftermath of the most serious sectarian violence witnessed since the end of last year, following the rise of Islamist rebel leader Ahmed Şara and the conclusion of the Assad regime.

In the Suwayda province, Minister of Disaster Management and Emergency Response, Raed El Salih, addressed individuals seeking refuge. He emphasized the collective need for increased effort and unity for Syria’s sake.”We are faced with many difficulties, but at the same time our hope is great,” El Salih stated, expressing his belief in the ability of the community’s wise leaders to navigate this challenging period and achieve peace and justice.

However, the journey towards the city of Suwayda revealed a stark contrast to these hopeful sentiments, indicating the deep-seated challenges that lie ahead.

This report was compiled and fact-checked by BBC journalists. A portion of the translation was facilitated by artificial intelligence as part of a pilot initiative.