Despite a presidential ceasefire announcement, intense sectarian violence continues to rock southern Syria.
Clashes between Druze and Bedouin factions in the Suweida province show no signs of abating, with reports of over 900 people killed in the past week. While Druze fighters reportedly expelled armed Bedouin groups from Suweida city on Saturday, fighting has persisted in surrounding areas. The BBC has not independently verified these reports.
Government troops deployed earlier by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa have been accused of participating in attacks against the Druze minority. Eyewitnesses described armed men looting and setting fire to businesses in Suweida, despite claims from the Syrian Interior Ministry that fighting had ceased following intervention.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the violence, calling for an end to “the rape and slaughter of innocent people” and urging Damascus to prevent further atrocities and hold perpetrators accountable—regardless of affiliation.
Meanwhile, Israel has taken a rare public stance in support of Syria’s Druze community, launching strikes against Syrian government positions, including a defense ministry facility in Damascus. A ceasefire deal—reportedly brokered by the U.S.—includes a halt to Israeli military action, contingent on the protection of Druze civilians.
Despite security checkpoints being established to de-escalate the conflict, gunfire and chaos persist. AFP reported ongoing looting and arson within Suweida city as tensions remain high.
Suweida is home to Syria’s Druze minority, followers of a secretive religious sect rooted in Shia Islam. Distrust of the Damascus regime runs deep in the community, whose members also reside in Israel and Lebanon. Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar warned that minorities remain “in grave danger” in Syria, citing repeated violence over the past six months.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed a commitment to protecting Druze populations, citing strong ties with Druze communities inside Israel.
The current violence was sparked by the kidnapping of a Druze merchant near the Damascus highway last week, reigniting long-standing hostilities between the Druze and Bedouin tribes.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported 940 deaths since the clashes began.
US Special Envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, appealed for unity:
“We call upon Druze, Bedouins, and Sunnis to put down their weapons and work together—alongside other minorities—to build a peaceful and inclusive Syrian future.”
