Sectarian Clashes in Sweida, Syria, Leave at Least 30 Dead Amid Rising Tensions

Sectarian Clashes in Sweida Syria Leave at Least 30 Dead Amid Rising Tensions

On July 13, 2025, violent clashes between Bedouin Sunni tribes and Druze militias in Sweida, southern Syria, resulted in at least 30 deaths and nearly 100 injuries, marking the deadliest sectarian violence in the city since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024. 

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported a higher toll of 37 deaths, including two children, with 27 Druze and 10 Bedouin casualties. The Syrian Interior Ministry has deployed security forces to intervene, as fears of a broader “bloodbath” grow in the fragile post-Assad landscape.

Details of the Conflict 

The violence erupted in Sweida’s Maqwas neighborhood, a Bedouin-inhabited area, following a wave of tit-for-tat kidnappings. The conflict was sparked by the abduction and robbery of a Druze vegetable seller by Bedouin tribesmen at an unauthorized checkpoint on the Damascus-Sweida highway on July 11, 2025. 

This incident led to retaliatory kidnappings and attacks, escalating into intense clashes involving Druze militias and Bedouin fighters. Armed Bedouin tribesmen also targeted Druze villages on Sweida’s western and northern outskirts, with hospitals overwhelmed by gunshot and blast injuries, including to children and the elderly. 

A medical source reported at least 15 bodies at Sweida’s state hospital, with some injured transferred to Daraa for treatment. The Damascus-Sweida highway was closed due to the unrest.

Context and Causes 

Sweida, the heartland of Syria’s Druze minority, has a population of about 700,000 Druze, who make up 3% of Syria’s population but hold significant influence due to their militias and historical role in anti-colonial struggles. 

The Druze, an offshoot of Shia Islam’s Ismaili branch, have maintained armed groups throughout Syria’s 14-year civil war, often aligning with the Assad regime for protection. Since Assad’s ousting by Sunni Islamist rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in December 2024, minority groups, including the Druze and Alawites, have faced heightened insecurity. 

Earlier clashes in April and May 2025 between Druze fighters and new government forces killed dozens, with agreements made to integrate Druze militias, though distrust persists. The recent violence was exacerbated by long standing feuds between Bedouin and Druze communities, compounded by the new government’s struggle to establish control.

Government and Community Response 

Syria’s Interior Ministry announced on July 14, 2025, that security forces, in coordination with the Ministry of Defense, would intervene directly to restore order, urging local cooperation. Sweida’s governor, Mustapha al-Bakur, and spiritual leaders called for calm and national reform. 

However, Druze militias remain wary of the Islamist-led government, with some factions refusing to disarm until security is guaranteed. Rayan Marouf, a Druze researcher running Suwayda24, warned, “This cycle of violence has exploded in a terrifying way and if it doesn’t end, we are heading toward a bloodbath.” 

The violence follows other sectarian incidents, including the killing of hundreds of Alawites in March 2025 and an attack on a Damascus church, heightening minority fears.

Regional and International Implications 

The clashes highlight Syria’s fragile transition under the HTS-led government, which faces challenges in protecting minorities and maintaining stability. Israel has expressed support for the Druze, with Defense Minister Israel Katz warning of “significant force” if the Syrian government fails to protect them, given Sweida’s proximity to the Golan Heights. 

Western nations, including the U.S. and UK, are moving toward normalizing relations with Syria, with the U.S. removing HTS from its terrorist list in July 2025 and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy visiting Damascus. However, the escalation underscores the difficulty of unifying Syria’s diverse ethnic and religious groups, with local analysts warning of deepening tribal fault lines.

The sectarian violence in Sweida reflects broader challenges in post-Assad Syria, where minority groups like the Druze fear marginalization under the new Islamist government. The deployment of security forces aims to curb the clashes, but underlying tensions and distrust threaten further escalation. As Syria navigates its fragile transition, the international community watches closely, with implications for regional stability and minority rights.

Read More…