Sweida Province in southern Syria, home to Druze-majority communities such as Sweida province, is slowly finding peace after weeks of tribal and sectarian clashes, which left several civilians and fighters dead, according to officials and observers.
Violence flared on July 12, when clashes between Druze factions and Sunni Bedouin tribes in and around Sweida city flared into open warfare, leading to gunfights, mortar shelling, street battles and street battles that devastated neighborhoods and villages throughout Sweida city and environs for one week – according to estimates by The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), at least 1000 people may have been killed as a result of these conflicts (The Guardian +4 +Reuters +AP News +4).
Over 128,000 residents were displaced as a result of this turmoil, leaving thousands injured and over 126 000 displaced from their homes, according to The Guardian and AP News (both reporting).
As soon as word of the outbreak spread, President Ahmed al-Sharaa of the Islamist-led interim government dispatched internal security forces into Sweida city – with state media and ministry officials reporting they managed to push tribal fighters back out onto its outskirts. State media and ministry officials confirmed this account with state media reports from state media outlets and ministry officials who claimed these forces ultimately cleared tribal fighters out from within Sweida city and into its surroundings and back onto its peripheries (X (formerly Twitter). They reported clearing tribal fighters out from Sweida city before pushing them back onto its peripherous edge before pushing them back out to its peripheathous surroundings (X (formerly Twitter), while state media and ministry officials reported on these forces eventually clearing tribal fighters into Sweida city and pushing them back onto its peripheres (x), state media reported this on November 19th of 2018, that eventually cleared tribal fighters out from Sweida city and back towards its periphearnce on 17th Nov 18th 2018 by state media reports (X), while state media and ministry officials reported they cleared tribal fighters back out to its periphearsed around 15thouses in September 2017. (X (formerly Twitter), according to state media officials said this month-statement 20 Nov 18.50 for another 15 sectarian fighters back out to its outer limits as reported on state media +15 ‘Wall) when reported back into its environs for clearing tribal fighters (Reuters 16th out to its outer limits, forcing back towards Sweda city by 1s 22nd). [X reuter 18th [X 15th) 17th ( –
Although recent claims suggested peace had taken hold in London, residents continued to report shootings and skirmishes within the city as tension lingered on, according to reports by Reuters and The Guardian.
President al-Sharaa announced an immediate ceasefire late Saturday evening, crediting “Arab and American mediation” as helping stabilize the situation, according to France 24 and Reuters (26th Jan).
U.S.-brokered agreement supported by Jordan, Turkey and neighboring nations included an Israeli consent to short Syrian military presence at Sweida to help enforce truce, according to Deutsche Welle (+13) or Reuters (+3) reports.
Israel launched airstrikes during the Syrian-Lebanese conflict against regime forces it accused of supporting Bedouins, in order to defend its Druze minority community, which enjoys cultural ties both inside Israel and across borders in Syria and Lebanon, according to Reuters reports.
Israeli air raids targeted Syrian army positions near Sweida and Damascus, further complicating ceasefire dynamics, according to Reuters and AP News reports.
Humanitarian aid convoys were delayed during the worst days of fighting but have finally begun reaching Sweida. Local authorities and human rights groups warn that many displaced families remain urgently in need of food, medical attention and safe shelter (Reuters +12, AP News +12 and The Guardian +12 respectively).
Residents expressed cautious relief at the reported calm. Fighters have left, but people sleep fitfully, wary of another flare-up,” according to a local humanitarian worker in The Times of Israel.
Daily Sabah reports: Interior ministry officials reiterated this sentiment by noting that tribal fighters had evacuated Sweida city but that armed groups still remained present within its province, according to The Times of Israel and Reuters (+11).
Analysts warn that the ceasefire remains tenuous. While government security forces were deployed to enforce it, residents report at least limited firefights continue in some outskirts, signaling deep-seated distrust between Druze, Bedouins and state forces (Wikipedia).
The United Nations estimates that more than 87,000 people have been displaced as a result of recent violence. Financial Times
As hospitals become overwhelmed and critical infrastructure damaged, international agencies stress that long-term stability will depend on sustained peace efforts, inclusive mediation and minority protections.
At present, residents in Syria’s southern region are living under a “cautious calm”, both hopeful and wary about what lies ahead in this potentially volatile corner.