Jump to content

Southern Syria clashes (July 2025–present)

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Not to be confused with Southern Syria clashes (April–May 2025).
Southern Syria clashes
Part of the Syrian civil war
Date12 July 2025 – present
Location
Suwayda Governorate, Syria
Status Ongoing
Belligerents
Druze armed groups
Syria		 Bedouin tribes
Commanders and leaders
Unknown
Syria Nizar al-Hariri		 Unknown
Units involved
Men of Dignity[1]
Syria General Security Service		 Unknown
Casualties and losses
27 killed 10 killed
37 killed in total,[a] 50+ injured[2]

The Southern Syria clashes are a series of armed confrontations that began on 12 July 2025 between Druze armed groups and Bedouin tribal fighters in the city of Suwayda and its surrounding villages in southern Syria. The violence has led to numerous casualties and significantly heightened sectarian and security tensions across the governorate.

Background

[edit]

The violence was reportedly triggered by a robbery incident that happened on 11 July 2025 on the Damascus–Suwayda highway,[3] in which a Druze vegetable merchant was assaulted by members of Bedouin tribes after they set up an improvised roadblock. The assailants stole his vehicle and belongings before forcibly taking him to a remote and rugged area. There, the group subjected him to sectarian insults and repeated death threats throughout his detention. He was later released blindfolded and in critical condition in a distant town.[4][5] In response, local Druze armed groups detained several individuals from Bedouin tribes the next day in an effort to recover the stolen property. This initiated a cycle of retaliatory kidnappings between the two sides, which quickly escalated into open armed clashes.[6]

Clashes

[edit]

Following the detention of several Bedouin individuals by the Druze armed groups, Bedouin fighters responded by establishing a checkpoint in the al-Maqwas neighborhood in eastern Suwayda city on 13 July, where they captured several members of the local Druze armed groups. Armed clashes soon erupted between the two sides in and around the area.[7][5]

Violence soon spread beyond al-Maqwas to rural areas including al-Tireh, al-Mazraa, and al-Soura al-Kabira. Reports confirmed the use of mortars and other heavy weapons. The highway between Damascus and Suwayda was cut off by armed groups.[8] While Syrian government checkpoints came under attack by Bedouin fighters, leading to reported clashes between the assailants and government security forces in various parts of the region.[9][10]

Reinforcements from Daraa Governorate arrived to the area to assist the Bedouin fighters.[11][10]

Bedouin tribal fighters were reported to have advanced toward the outskirts of al-Tireh village.[12] Most residents of the village were displaced toward al-Mazraa and Suwayda amidst the violent clashes, during which several homes were set on fire.[13]

Meanwhile, Syrian government forces from the Ministry of Interior were dispatched to contain the fighting.[14]

On the evening of 13 July, the Ministry of Education postponed the high school final exams originally scheduled for 14 July to a later date due to escalating security tensions in the region.[15]

De-escalation efforts

[edit]

Suwayda Governor Moustafa al-Bakkour immediately called for calm, warning against sectarian strife and urging restraint.[11] Al-Bakkour reaffirmed the state's commitment to protecting civilians and praised local efforts for conflict resolution.[16] While Brigadier General Nizar al-Hariri, deputy chief of the Internal Security Service , linked the escalation to the fallout from the highway robbery and subsequent abductions. He stated that local and security efforts were underway to de-escalate the violence.[8]

Sheikh Hammoud al-Hinnawi, one of the Druze religious leaders in Syria,[b] issued a public appeal calling for calm and the avoidance of further violence, he urged all parties to reject sectarian strife, cease retaliatory actions, and uphold the rule of law. Al-Hinnawi addressed his message directly to President Ahmed al-Sharaa, tribal leaders, and all individuals of conscience, urging them to take active steps to prevent further bloodshed. He affirmed that the Druze community seeks justice and stability, stating that "dignity is preserved through reason and wisdom, not through weapons and abductions".[18]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^
    • 27 Druze
    • 10 Bedouins
    - Numbers include both fighters and civilians.
  2. ^ Spiritual leadership of the Druze in Syria is split into two since the 2010s, one is headed by Hikmat al-Hijri, the other is mutually headed by Hammoud al-Hinnawi and Yousef Jarbou.[17]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ ""رجال الكرامة": ما تشهده السويداء يهدد السلم الأهلي ويمهد لحالة من الفوضى" ["Men of Dignity": What is happening in Suwayda threatens civil peace and paves the way for chaos]. Syria TV (in Arabic). 14 July 2025. Archived from the original on 14 July 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  2. ^ "وزارة الدفاع تدفع بتعزيزات كبيرة إلى السويداء.. وارتفاع عدد القتلى في الاقتتال إلى 37 شخصا" [Ministry of Defense sends major reinforcements to Suwayda as death toll in fighting rises to 37]. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (in Arabic). 14 July 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  3. ^ "عشرات القتلى والجرحى في اشتباكات السويداء وجهود حثيثة لاحتواء التوتر" [Dozens killed and injured in Suwayda clashes amid intensive efforts to contain the tension]. Independent Arabia (in Arabic). 14 July 2025. Archived from the original on 14 July 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  4. ^ "احتجازات متبادلة تشعل فتيل التوتر في السويداء عقب حادثة اعتداء مسلح طالت شاباً على الطريق الواصل مع دمشق" [Mutual detentions ignite tensions in Suwayda following armed assault on young man along Damascus road]. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (in Arabic). 13 July 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  5. ^ a b Ben Ari, Lior (13 July 2025). "At least 18 killed in clashes between Druze, Bedouins in southern Syria". Ynet. Archived from the original on 14 July 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  6. ^ "اشتباكات السويداء تتفاقم... عشرات القتلى والجرحى وسط نزوح جماعي" [Suwayda clashes escalate... dozens killed and wounded amid mass displacement]. An-Nahar (in Arabic). 13 July 2025. Archived from the original on 13 July 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  7. ^ "توتر متصاعد في السويداء.. اشتباكات في حي المقوس وقطع طريق دمشق – السويداء إثر احتجازات متبادلة بين مسلحين محليين وعشائر في المنطقة" [Rising tension in Suwayda: Clashes in al-Maqwas and Damascus–Suwayda road cut off after mutual detentions between local gunmen and tribes]. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (in Arabic). 13 July 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  8. ^ a b "ارتفاع حصيلة اشتباكات السويداء إلى 11 قتيلاً و54 مصاباً" [Suwayda clashes death toll rises to 11 dead and 54 injured]. The New Arab (in Arabic). 13 July 2025. Archived from the original on 13 July 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  9. ^ "التوتر الأمني يتصاعد في السويداء.. مجموعات من أبناء العشائر تهاجم حواجز للشرطة.. وارتفاع عدد قتلى حي المقوس إلى 8" [Security tensions escalate in Suwayda: Tribal groups attack police checkpoints as al-Maqwas death toll rises to 8]. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (in Arabic). 13 July 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  10. ^ a b "لمؤازرة أبناء العشائر.. مجموعات حوران تتجه إلى المناطق الساخنة في ريف السويداء" [In support of tribal fighters, Horan groups head toward flashpoints in Suwayda countryside]. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (in Arabic). 13 July 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  11. ^ a b "السويداء تشتعل: اشتباكات دامية تودي بحياة 13 شخصاً على الأقل" [Suwayda ignites: Bloody clashes leave at least 13 dead]. Euronews (in Arabic). 13 July 2025. Archived from the original on 13 July 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  12. ^ "اتساع رقعة الاشتباكات في السويداء وريفها.. وارتفاع عدد القتلى إلى 13 شخصا وأكثر من 40 جريحا" [Clashes expand in Suwayda and its countryside; death toll rises to 13 with over 40 injured]. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (in Arabic). 13 July 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  13. ^ "نزوح جماعي واشتباكات واستهداف بلدات في تصعيد أمني خطير في السويداء.. وارتفاع عدد القتلى إلى 21 شخصا" [Mass displacement, clashes, and town attacks amid serious security escalation in Suwayda; death toll rises to 21]. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (in Arabic). 13 July 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  14. ^ "18 قتيلا وعشرات الجرحى باشتباكات بين بدو ودروز في السويداء" [18 killed and dozens injured in clashes between Bedouins and Druze in Suwayda]. Independent Arabia (in Arabic). 13 July 2025. Archived from the original on 14 July 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  15. ^ "تأجيل امتحان التربية الدينية في محافظة السويداء فقط إلى موعد يحدد لاحقاً" [Postponement of religious education exam in Suwayda Governorate only to a later date]. Syrian Arab News Agency (in Arabic). 13 July 2025. Archived from the original on 14 July 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  16. ^ "20 قتيلا وعشرات المصابين في اشتباكات بالسويداء السورية" [20 killed and dozens injured in clashes in Syria's Suwayda]. Al Jazeera (in Arabic). 13 July 2025. Archived from the original on 13 July 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  17. ^ "حكمت الهجري أحد زعماء الدروز في السويداء" [Hikmat al-Hijri: One of the Druze Leaders in As-Suwayda]. Al Jazeera Arabic (in Arabic). 16 March 2025. Archived from the original on 7 April 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  18. ^ "قتلى في اشتباكات بين العشائر والدروز في السويداء تهدد السلم الأهلي" [Deaths in clashes between tribes and Druze in Suwayda threaten civil peace]. Middle East Online (in Arabic). 13 July 2025. Archived from the original on 13 July 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Southern_Syria_clashes_(July_2025–present)&oldid=1300407583"