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Suwayda Governorate

Coordinates: 32°48′N 36°48′E / 32.8°N 36.8°E / 32.8; 36.8
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As-Suwayda Governorate
مُحافظة السويداء
Governorate
Map of Syria with al-Suwayda Governorate highlighted
Map of Syria with al-Suwayda Governorate highlighted
Coordinates (Al-Suwayda): 32°48′N 36°48′E / 32.8°N 36.8°E / 32.8; 36.8
Country Syria
ControlContested:
Druze armed groups (SMC and Men of Dignity)
Syrian Transitional Government
CapitalSuwayda
Manatiq (Districts)3
Government
 • GovernorMustafa al-Bakour
Area
 • Total
5,550 km2 (2,140 sq mi)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total
375,000[1]
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
ISO 3166 codeSY-SU
Main language(s)Arabic

Suwayda or As-Suwayda Governorate (Arabic: مُحافظة السويداء, romanized: Muḥāfaẓat as-Suwaydā’) is one of the fourteen governorates (provinces) of Syria. It is the country's southernmost governorate, covering an area of 5,550 km², and is bordered by Daraa governorate in the west Rif Dimashq governorate in the north and northeast, and the country of Jordan in the south and southeast. The capital and largest city of the governorate is Suwayda.

Geographically the governorate comprises almost all of Jabal al-Druze, the eastern part of Lajat, and a part of the arid eastern steppe of Harrat al-Sham. Both Suwayda and Daraa governorates are part of the historic Hauran region.

Most inhabitants of As-Suwayda are employed in agriculture, cultivating crops such as grapes, apples, olives, and wheat. Additionally, As-Suwayda is home to numerous archaeological sites.

The governorate had a population of 313,546 in the 2004 census.[2]

This governorate is unique in Syria as it has a Druze majority. Additionally, it has integrated Christian communities that have long coexisted harmoniously with the Druze in these mountains[3] and a Sunni Muslim Bedouin minority.

History

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Civil War (2011–present)

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Main article: Syrian civil war
Further information: 2018 As-Suwayda attacks, As-Suwayda offensive (August–November 2018), Southern Syria offensive (2024), Southern Syria clashes (April–May 2025), 2025 Southern Syria bombings, and Southern Syria clashes (July 2025–present)

Geography

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Districts

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The governorate is divided into three districts (manatiq). The districts are further divided into 12 sub-districts (nawahi):

Cities, towns and villages

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Main article: List of populated places in al-Suwayda Governorate

This list includes all cities, towns and villages with more than 5,000 inhabitants. Based on the 2004 census, the Suwayda Governorate was populated by 134 localities. The population figures are given according to the 2004 official census:[4] [5]

English Name Population District
Suwayda 73,641 Suwayda District
Shahba 13,660 Shahba District
Salkhad 9,155 Salkhad District
Qanawat 8,324 Suwayda District
Al-Kafr 7,458 Suwayda District
Al-Qurayya 6,789 Salkhad District
Ira 6,136 Suwayda District
Urman 5,735 Salkhad District
Ar-Raha 5,711 Suwayda District
Shaqqa 5,116 Shahba District
Suwayda's City aerial view October 2011
Druze shrine on top of Jabal al-Druze

The governorate contains 3 cities, 124 towns/villages, and 36 hamlets.[6]

Cities

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Towns

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Demographics

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Religious composition of Suwayda Governorate (2010)[1]
Druze
 
 90%
Christians
 
 7%
Sunni Muslims
 
 3%

The governorate has a population of about 375,000 inhabitants (est. 2010).[6] It is the only governorate in Syria that has a Druze majority.[7] This is due to the large scale migration of the Druze from Lebanon (and to a lesser extent, the Galilee) from the mid-19th through the early 20th century.[8] There is also a sizable Greek Orthodox minority, and a small Sunni Muslim Bedouin community. During the civil war, many Sunni Muslim refugees—mainly from Daraa Governorate as well as other parts of Syria—found refuge in Suwayda.[9]

In the 1980s Druze made up 87.6% of the population, Christians (mostly Greek Orthodox) 11% and Sunni Muslims 2%.[10] In 2010, the As-Suwayda governorate has a population of about 375,000 inhabitants, Druze made up 90%, Christians 7% and Sunni Muslims 3%.[1] Due to low birth and high emigration rates, Christians proportion in As-Suwayda had declined.[1]

Most of the inhabitants live in the western parts of the governorate, especially on the western slopes of Jabal al-Druze. Only nomadic Bedouin tribes live in the barren region of Harrat al-Shamah.

Government

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The Druze majority government has leant towards a semi independent status, with a lot of its history rejecting central Syrian government. During the Assad period, the Suwayda Government was largely free of serious conflict. However, during this period there was regular passive resistance to Assad's rule, with constant public protests [11][12]with the people there closing the Baath party offices and removing Assad's posters on public, though this never escalated to armed revolution.[13]

Similarly, attacks on minorities, in particular Druze peoples, have shaken confidence in the post Assad Government [14]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Balanche, Fabrice. "The Druze and Assad: Strategic Bedfellows | The Washington Institute". The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Retrieved 2025-02-01.
  2. ^ https://archive.ph/ro1Sr
  3. ^ Balanche, Fabrice (2017). Atlas of the Near East: State Formation and the Arab-Israeli Conflict, 1918–2010. Brill. p. 27. ISBN 9789004345188. ...comprised 50,328 inhabitants, of whom 85 per cent were Druze, and it integrated Christian communities (7,000 people) who had long lived in these mountains in harmony with the Druze
  4. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-03-10. Retrieved 2013-11-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ^ https://archive.ph/ro1Sr
  6. ^ a b Statistics from "المكتب المركزي للاحصاء". Archived from the original on 2007-03-29. Retrieved 2007-04-05.
  7. ^ Country Data Page on Syria
  8. ^ Lewis, Norman N (1987). Nomads and settlers in Syria and Jordan, 1800-1980. Cambridge University Press. pp. 74–95.
  9. ^ Shahba provides refuge for displaced Syrians Archived 2014-04-13 at the Wayback Machine. 28 September 2012.
  10. ^ Pipes, Daniel (1990). Greater Syria: The History of an Ambition. Oxford University Press. p. 151. ISBN 978-0-19-506021-8.
  11. ^ "The Sweida Issue: A Dilemma for the Syrian Regime in Southern Syria". CSIORS: Insights & Analysis of Middle East Complexities. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  12. ^ Edwards, Madeline (2025-01-02). "Joy and Trepidation Among Syria's Druze". New Lines Magazine. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  13. ^ Dagres, Holly (2023-09-05). "The uprising in Sweida will continue until the regime changes in Syria". Atlantic Council. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  14. ^ Salhani, Justin. "Syria's Druze divided as sectarian tensions linger after violence". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
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