Daijiworld Media Network - Damascus/Jerusalem
Damascus/Jerusalem, Jul 16: A volatile situation unfolded in southern Syria on Tuesday as Israeli airstrikes targeted Syrian army convoys and security vehicles in and around the city of Sweida, reportedly killing and wounding multiple personnel. The strikes coincided with days of deadly sectarian violence between Druze factions, Bedouin tribes, and forces of the Syrian interim government.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed a strike on Syrian army vehicles at Sweida’s western entrance and another on general security convoys inside the city. A Syrian army tank was also destroyed earlier in the day. At least one soldier has been confirmed killed, while several others were injured.
In a dramatic turn, Murhaf Abu Qasra, head of Syrian defence authorities, declared a full ceasefire in Sweida after negotiations with local Druze elders. In a statement posted on social media, he said that all forces were ordered to halt fire, and armed police will now handle law enforcement in the city. Military vehicles began withdrawing from residential areas in a bid to de-escalate the crisis.
Meanwhile, the Observatory reported another major incident — an attack on a guesthouse owned by the Radwan family, leaving at least 15 people dead or injured. The assailants were reportedly disguised in military uniforms, but independent verification remains pending.
Israeli Intervention
Shortly after the ceasefire announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a joint statement confirming that they had ordered the Israeli military to strike Syrian targets in Sweida. The leaders claimed the move was to protect the Druze population in the region, citing deep cultural and familial ties with Israel’s Druze community.
The Israeli military said it targeted Syrian armoured vehicles and rocket launchers, along with access routes to Sweida to block further military build-up. The military also said it is continuing to monitor developments and remains on high alert.
Rising Casualties and Tensions
The death toll from recent clashes has now exceeded 99, with more than 200 injured, according to the Syrian Observatory. Among the dead are:
• 60 Druze civilians, including two women and two children
• 18 Bedouins
• 14 Syrian soldiers
• 7 unidentified individuals in military garb
The violence began when armed Bedouins assaulted a Druze youth near al-Masmiyah, leading to retaliatory kidnappings by Druze fighters and escalating into open conflict across urban areas of Sweida.
Adding to the tension, prominent Druze religious leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri walked back his earlier support for the Syrian army’s deployment, saying he had spoken under pressure and urged resistance "by all available means."
Despite the ceasefire, the atmosphere in Sweida remains fragile, with fears of renewed violence and further external intervention looming.