Daijiworld Media Network - Damascus
Damascus, Jul 17: A tense calm returned to Syria’s southern province of Sweida on Thursday as interim government troops fully withdrew after days of violent clashes involving government forces, Druze fighters, and Bedouin tribes. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) confirmed the pullout, noting the absence of any remaining government fighters in the region.
SOHR Director Rami Abdulrahman stated, “There is no longer a single fighter from government forces in Sweida,” while raising uncertainty about the possible return of internal security units previously stationed there.
Despite the de-escalation in fighting, the humanitarian situation remains dire. The streets of Sweida bear the aftermath of violence — bodies lie uncollected, and the wounded suffer due to a lack of medical aid.
The conflict ignited last Sunday when Bedouin tribesmen allegedly attacked and robbed a young Druze man near al-Masmiyah, along the Damascus-Sweida highway. This act triggered retaliatory kidnappings by Druze factions, escalating into widespread combat involving government troops and Bedouin militias.
In a dramatic turn on Wednesday, Israel launched a series of airstrikes on Damascus and Sweida, citing the protection of the Druze community as justification. The strikes were swiftly condemned by several international actors.
The death toll has surged past 370, according to SOHR, including:
• 207 government soldiers
• 107 Druze fighters and civilians
• 27 civilians allegedly executed
• 14 unidentified bodies found in retaken zones
• 18 killed in the Israeli strikes
SOHR stressed the need for an urgent humanitarian response: “The humanitarian situation requires immediate relief and a collective national effort to heal the wounds.”
A fragile ceasefire came into effect late Wednesday, brokered between the interim government and Druze spiritual leaders. It mandates a full cessation of hostilities, withdrawal of troops to barracks, and restoration of state control in Sweida. However, whether this truce will hold remains uncertain.
While Sheikh Youssef Jarbouh, the Druze community’s top cleric, endorsed the agreement and called for its implementation, deep divisions linger. Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, another influential Druze figure, outright rejected any pact with the transitional government, vowing to continue what he called “legitimate resistance” until all government forces are expelled from Sweida.
Reacting to the developments, interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa addressed the nation at dawn Thursday, reaffirming the government's dedication to protecting all Syrians, especially the Druze minority. He also issued a strong condemnation of the Israeli airstrikes.
“Your rights and freedoms are a top priority,” al-Sharaa told the Druze. “We will not allow foreign agendas to divide us.”
Taking direct aim at Israel, al-Sharaa accused it of trying to destabilize Syria by inflaming internal conflicts and preventing national recovery. “Syria will not be a playground for foreign conspiracies,” he said. “We will defend our people and their future from those who seek to weaken our unity.”