Druze and Bedouin Communities in Syria Experience escalating Tensions
Beirut, Lebanon – Sectarian clashes have erupted in Syria’s Sweida province, a region predominantly inhabited by the Druze religious sect, which originated as a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shiite Islam.Over half of the world’s approximately one million Druze reside in Syria, with significant populations also in Lebanon and Israel, including the Golan Heights.
The recent escalation in Sweida began when members of a local Bedouin tribe, who are Sunni Muslims and have historically experienced intermittent conflicts with the Druze, established a checkpoint. According too reports, they attacked and robbed a Druze man, leading to a cycle of retaliatory attacks and kidnappings between the two communities.
Syrian researcher Ahmed Aba Zeid, who specializes in armed groups in southern syria, stated that there is “no specific reason” for the historical tensions between the groups, attributing them to broader social problems within Syria. He also suggested that the Syrian state may have exploited the recent incident to alter the situation in Sweida,inadvertently intensifying the conflict.
In response to the escalating violence,members of the Druze community in Israel have called for intervention to protect their co-religionists in Syria. Though, Druze leaders elsewhere in the region have rejected any form of Israeli involvement.Sheikh Sami Abi al-Muna, the spiritual leader of the Druze community in Lebanon, expressed concern that the sectarian clashes in syria could provide a pretext for Israeli intervention and destabilize the region. He emphasized that the Druze community would not seek protection from Israel, which he believes is detrimental to their history and identity. Al-Muna urged all parties to adhere to a recently brokered ceasefire and advocated for national dialog to address inter-community issues in Syria.
Lebanese Druze leader Walid Joumblatt, who played a role in mediating the ceasefire, also called for the establishment of an investigative committee to examine violations against both Druze and Bedouin populations in Syria.