Global (Commonwealth Union) _ A surge of sectarian violence has once again erupted in southern Syria, leaving dozens dead and hundreds wounded as Druze militias and Sunni Bedouin tribal fighters have fallen into conflict. The state of unrest, which began on Sunday in the city of Suweida, marks one of the more severe flare-ups since December, when former President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown.
The tension reportedly rose with the abduction of a Druze merchant on the Damascus highway, triggering retaliation from the predominantly Druze city, with a fight allegedly having broken out in the al-Maqwas neighborhood, a Bedouin-populated area that was later overtaken by armed Druze groups. Bedouin tribesmen launched counterattacks on Druze villages, spreading the violence to the western and northern outskirts.
Reports indicate that the violence escalated to towns like Sumay and Mazraah, with Tayrah village reporting shelling and arson. Over 200 people are believed to be wounded, with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirming that children and members of Syria’s defense forces were among the dead.
The country’s interior ministry stated that the surge in violence is a result of weak institutional presence and a lack of local control, contributing to what they described as a collapse in the security situation. “This dangerous escalation comes in light of the absence of relevant official institutions,” the ministry said, adding that security forces would begin direct intervention.
Efforts to de-escalate the situation briefly took shape on Sunday night with reported mediation between Druze and Bedouin leaders, leading to the release of hostages from both communities. Nevertheless, the calm was short-lived, with reports of drone strikes and renewed fighting in the western countryside the following day.
In a statement made on Telegram, the Israel Defence Forces said they had targeted Syrian tanks that were believed to have been heading toward Suweida, expressing concerns about potential threats to Druze-populated areas, although no formal link to the internal fighting has been confirmed.
Mustapha al-Bakur, the governor of Suweida in Syria, has urged citizens to exercise self-restraint. Meanwhile, spiritual leaders from the Druze community have called for peace and national unity amid fears of prolonged instability.
