Smell of Death and Destruction: Sweida’s Sectarian Violence Plagues Residents

The recent wave of sectarian violence in Sweida, Syria, has left a community reeling with death and destruction, as residents recount the aftermath of clashes that have claimed over 500 lives.

On July 17, 2025, 33-year-old Hossam, a resident of the southern city of Sweida, emerged from a five-day lockdown in horror. As he drove through the streets, the overwhelming smell of death was inescapable. “The smell of corpses in Sweida is unbearable,” he stated, noting the sight of burned vehicles and vandalized shops. Blood-soaked streets testified to the violence that has engulfed the area.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the recent unrest reflects the worst sectarian clashes seen since the peak of Syria's civil war. Hossam described barricading himself indoors as fighting erupted between government forces and Druse minority militias. Following a temporary truce, he observed severe damage throughout the town, with frantic families rushing to the public hospital seeking loved ones or emergency care for the wounded.

Hossam, worried about potential retribution, emphasized the devastation inflicted on his hometown. Amid the ongoing violence, the emotional and physical scars left on the community will likely linger for a long time.