Deadliest fighting in months rocks southern Syrian province as government forces deploy to restore order.
At least 30 people have been killed and over 100 wounded in three days of intense sectarian clashes between Druze militias and Bedouin tribal fighters in Syria's southern Suwaida province, marking the region's deadliest violence in years.
The bloodshed, which began on July 12, was triggered by the kidnapping of a Druze merchant on the Suwaida-Damascus highway. The abduction sparked immediate retaliatory attacks that rapidly escalated into widespread armed confrontations involving heavy gunfire, mortars, and rocket-propelled grenades.
According to multiple reports, the death toll ranges from 30 to 38, with some sources indicating that 37 Druze were killed, including two children, alongside 10 Bedouin fighters. The majority of casualties are from the Druze community, though both sides have suffered significant losses. Hospitals across Suwaida are overwhelmed with the wounded, with reports indicating that some patients have been denied medical access in certain areas.
Government Forces Deploy
The Syrian transitionary government has responded by deploying additional troops from the ministries of Defense and Interior to Suwaida and surrounding rural areas. Security forces are attempting to restore order, provide safe passage for civilians, and separate the warring factions. The Damascus-Suwaida highway has been closed, and secondary school examinations have been postponed due to the violence.
The fighting has been particularly intense in the Maqwas neighborhood and the western and northern outskirts of Suwaida city, where residential areas, places of worship, and homes have been damaged or set ablaze. The violence represents the worst sectarian clashes in the region since similar confrontations in April and May 2025, which also left dozens dead.
Historical Tensions Resurface
Suwaida province is home to Syria's largest Druze community, a religious minority numbering approximately 700,000 people. The long-standing feud between Druze and Bedouin tribes in the region has been exacerbated by what local leaders describe as a security vacuum and the absence of effective state institutions.
Druze spiritual leaders and local officials have issued urgent appeals for restraint and dialogue, warning that continued violence risks igniting a wider sectarian conflict. "We will not allow Suwaida to become a battleground for settling external scores," a Druze community leader declared, emphasizing the community's defensive stance while calling for immediate de-escalation.
Local Druze representatives have criticized the Syrian government for failing to maintain security and have accused authorities of tolerating or even supporting armed factions that have contributed to the crisis. The violence has reignited concerns among Syria's minorities about their security and future in the war-torn country.
Regional Implications
The ongoing clashes in Suwaida form part of a broader pattern of unrest in southern Syria, with mounting fears that the conflict could spill into neighboring regions. Despite the government's intervention, the situation remains highly volatile, with both sides maintaining armed positions and tensions continuing to escalate.
As government forces work to restore calm, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. With civilian displacement increasing and medical facilities stretched beyond capacity, international observers warn that without immediate intervention and sustained dialogue between the communities, Suwaida faces the prospect of prolonged sectarian violence that could further destabilize Syria's already fragile southern provinces.
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