Armed confrontations in the Druze-majority city of Suweida have led to at least 30 fatalities, with security forces working to restore order amid escalating sectarian strife. Local leaders are calling for restraint as violence continues to spread.
Surge of Sectarian Violence in Southern Syria Claims Lives Amid Escalating Tensions
Surge of Sectarian Violence in Southern Syria Claims Lives Amid Escalating Tensions
Recent clashes between Druze and Bedouin factions in southern Syria have left at least 30 dead, igniting fears of widespread unrest in the region.
Clashes erupted in the city of Suweida, southern Syria, between Sunni Bedouin tribal fighters and Druze militias, leaving at least 30 people dead, according to the Syrian interior ministry. This violence follows the reported abduction of a Druze merchant on the highway two days prior and has been characterized by the ministry as a "dangerous escalation." Security forces are currently being deployed to restore calm amid rising tensions in the area.
The ongoing violence is part of a disturbing trend of sectarian conflict across Syria that has surged since the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad in December. Various minority communities, including the Druze—who follow a unique offshoot of Shia Islam—have expressed growing concerns over their safety and the new power dynamics within the country.
The clashes began in the al-Maqwas neighborhood of Suweida, an area traditionally inhabited by the Bedouin population, which was subsequently encircled by armed Druze fighters. The violence quickly spread, with Bedouin tribesmen reportedly targeting Druze towns and villages on the city's outskirts. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that towns such as Sumay and Mazraah were shelled, and fears grew as residents fled from villages like Tayrah amidst the chaos, with several homes ignited.
In a statement, the interior ministry cited the absence of official institutions as exacerbating the volatile situation. It announced plans to intervene directly in the affected areas in coordination with military forces to quell the conflict. Meanwhile, Mustapha al-Bakur, the governor of Suweida, urged residents to exercise restraint and heed national calls for reform.
In a glimmer of hope, reports from the activist-run news outlet Suwayda 24 indicated that mediation efforts between Bedouin and Druze leaders led to the release of individuals kidnapped during the clashes. Nevertheless, renewed violence erupted the following morning in the western countryside of Suweida, with drone attacks targeting villages concurrently with government forces mobilizing in eastern Deraa province.
While the situation remains critical, local leaders and Syrian Druze spiritual figures are stressing the importance of maintaining peace and discussing resolutions amidst the turmoil. This series of events echoes a troubling history of sectarian clashes, which saw over 130 lives lost earlier this May in confrontations involving Druze militias, security forces, and allied Sunni Islamist factions.
