Armed Conflict Erupts Between Druze and Bedouin in Southern Syria

Armed clashes between Druze militias and Sunni Bedouin fighters in southern Syria's Suweida province resulted in at least 30 deaths, escalating fears of sectarian violence in the region. The government has deployed security forces to quell the unrest while local leaders seek mediation.

At least 30 people have been killed in armed clashes between Sunni Bedouin tribal fighters and Druze militias in southern Syria, according to the country's interior ministry. The violence erupted in the predominantly Druze city of Suweida on Sunday, following the reported abduction of a Druze merchant on the highway to Damascus two days earlier. The interior ministry labeled the situation as “a dangerous escalation” and announced the deployment of security forces to restore calm.

This outbreak of violence adds to the ongoing sectarian tensions in Syria, particularly following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December by Islamist-led rebel forces. Many minority groups in the country, including the Druze—who practice a faith derived from Shia Islam—fear for their safety and the future of their communities under the new authorities.

Fighting commenced in the al-Maqwas neighborhood of Suweida city, predominantly populated by Bedouin. Armed Druze fighters reportedly encircled the area, and the clashes quickly spread to other parts of Suweida province, with Bedouin tribes attacking Druze villages on the city's outskirts. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, reported the deaths of 37 individuals—27 Druze, including two children, and 10 Bedouin.

The interior ministry expressed concern that the chaos and lack of official institutions were exacerbating the security situation, stating that local communities have been unable to manage the crisis despite calls for calm. Suweida governor Mustapha al-Bakur urged residents to practice restraint and respond to national reform calls.

In the evening, local activist news outlet Suwayda 24 reported that mediation efforts between Bedouin and Druze leaders led to the release of individuals kidnapped during the conflict. However, fighting erupted anew the following morning in Suweida's western countryside amidst simultaneous government forces deployments in nearby eastern Deraa province.

This latest wave of violence comes just months after over 130 fatalities were recorded in earlier clashes between Druze gunmen, government forces, and allied Sunni Islamist fighters in Damascus and Suweida province. Following those incidents, an agreement facilitated the hiring of local security forces from Druze ranks in the contested region.