Dozens Killed in Sweida Clashes as Syrian Army Moves to Restore Control
Violence between Druze factions and Bedouin tribal groups escalates in southern Syria, prompting calls for calm and state intervention amid fears of wider destabilization.
Syria, PUREWILAYAH.COM - The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported late Monday that around 100 people were killed and more than 200 others were injured in ongoing clashes in the Sweida region.
Since Sunday morning, the wounded have continued to arrive at the National Hospital in Sweida. The fighting represents one of the deadliest outbreaks of violence in the region in recent years.
According to local sources, fierce confrontations erupted between armed Druze factions from Sweida and Bedouin tribal groups near the al-Thalaa military airport and the Hazm bridge, north of Sweida governorate.
The violence has spread to areas including the village of Kanaker and the towns of Thaala and Mazraa.
Uncertainty Around Israeli Aerial Activity
Amid the escalating tensions, an Israeli warplane was seen flying over the area and launching thermal balloons.
Explosions were heard, although it remains unclear whether these were the result of Israeli military activity or part of the heavy fighting on the ground, according to the Syrian Observatory.
Syrian Army Responds with Ground Operations
The Sweida Governorate reported that artillery shells had fallen on the city of Sweida, originating from areas controlled by Bedouin tribes and Ministry of Defense forces in al-Maliha al-Sharqiya. In response, the Syrian army has launched operations to secure the area.
Defense Ministry spokesman Hassan Abdul Ghani stated that the Syrian army had secured a key farm in the Sweida countryside and that control of the village of Kanaker was imminent.
Syria TV further reported that the army is now only 4 kilometers from the western entrance to Sweida city and has established security checkpoints in the village of Walgha.
Public Figures Call for Calm and Return to State Authority
In the face of escalating violence, prominent figures, intellectuals, and residents of Sweida province issued a joint statement on Monday calling for calm, accountability, and a return to state authority. The statement emphasized the moral and national responsibility to prevent the region from descending into chaos.
The signatories warned against the consequences of unchecked weapon proliferation and armed group activity, urging all sides to prioritize wisdom and civil peace. “The blood of our sons is more precious than any conflict,” the statement declared, calling for the protection of Sweida’s social fabric and an end to lawlessness.
The province of Sweida, home to Syria’s Druze minority, has largely remained on the periphery of Syria’s broader civil war.
However, the current wave of violence represents a significant escalation, fueled by growing tensions between local factions and state forces, and possibly aggravated by external actors seeking to exploit sectarian divisions and weaken the central government's control.
The situation threatens to open a new front in the Syrian conflict, with potential regional implications. (PW)
Source: Al-Mayadeen