Deadly clashes erupted near the Druze-majority city of Sweida, Syria, involving nomadic Arab tribes and local fighters, resulting in approximately thirty Druze deaths, including two children, and ten Bedouin fatalities. Around fifty individuals sustained injuries in the violence, marking the first fatal incident in the region since spring, when clashes between the Druze community and security forces led to dozens of casualties.
The recent violence underscores escalating tensions between the Druze population and the Syrian government, which have been strained for some time and intensified in recent months. Similar fatal confrontations occurred in April and May, with dozens killed in fighting between Druze and pro-government fighters near the capital, Damascus.
The Druze, a religious minority that diverged from Shiite Islam in the tenth century, number around one million people, with meaningful populations in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel. The majority of Syrian Druze reside in the Sweida province.
The collapse of the Assad regime in December, following a rebel uprising, has led to increased instability and fears of renewed sectarian violence across Syria. The current situation reflects a broader pattern of rising tensions among different population groups in the country.