The Syrian government said it has deployed troops to restore security to the Druze-majority southern province of al-Suwaidaa where dozens of people have been killed in violent clashes.
Local sources say the fighting raised fears of sectarian tensions, days after the U.S. praised efforts to combat terrorism by the Syrian government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. State Department and the Syrian government for comment.
Why It Matters
Violence has escalated across Syria despite a recent pledge by al-Sharaa — a former militant Islamist who met with President Donald Trump in May — of a new era of religious tolerance as he sought legitimacy from the West.
The renewed bloodshed raises concerns on Syria’s fragile transition which the U.S. is supporting through easing sanctions, backing reconstruction, and restoring a diplomatic presence in the country, while committed to prevent Islamic State’s resurgence — which the Syrian government accused of a deadly church bombing that killed dozens last month.
What To Know
More than 30 people were killed and over a hundred were wounded in clashes between local armed groups and tribes in Suwayda, according to a statement by Syrian Interior Ministry on X formerly Twitter.
The Syria Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that at least 37 people, including two children, 27 Druze civilians, and 10 Bedouins. Residents fled, homes were set on fire and shells were fired, SOHR added.
The conflict began with a robbery assault and escalated between Druze militias and Sunni Bedouin clans, according to the Associated Press. The Syrian government said soldiers were killed while deployed to stop the clashes, state media reported.
“Tensions quickly escalated into sectarian violence,” Saleh al-Nabawany, an activist based in Suwayda, told Newsweek. He said Bedouin tribes have repeatedly blocked roads, robbed food trucks delivering to the city, and assaulted residents.
After Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) forces led by al-Sharaa overthrew Bashar al-Assad‘s regime in December 2024, weapons left by retreating units fell into the hands of local militias, tribal factions, and former rebels, observers say. Al-Sharaa has since pushed to consolidate control, but progress remains limited.
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack, involved in talks between al-Sharaa’s government and the U.S.-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on forming a national unity army, told the Associated Press after meetings in Damascus this week that significant differences remain between the two sides.
Last week, the U.S. removed HTS from terrorist lists citing the announced dissolution of the group and the Syrian government’s commitment to combat terrorism. The U.S. State Department said the move “recognizes the positive actions taken by the new Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa.”
What People Are Saying
Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khatab wrote on X, translated from Arabic: “The dangerous escalation comes amid an absence of state institutions—particularly military and security ones—is a key reason behind the ongoing tensions in Suwayda and its countryside. The only solution lies in enforcing security and activating the role of these institutions to ensure civil peace and the full return of normal life.”
Activist Saleh al-Nabawany told Newsweek: “Unfortunately, the state did not intervene clearly to restore security and enforce justice. The tribes are spreading out, refusing to comply. The absence of the state is completely evident.”
U.S. State Secretary Marco Rubio said last week: “This FTO revocation is an important step in fulfilling President Trump’s vision of a stable, unified, and peaceful Syria.”
What Happens Next
The new Syrian authorities face a major challenge to restore order and end the sectarian violence without bringing about more bloodshed. Syria risks deepening chaos as it remains a battleground for regional rivals.
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