Heavy fighting has erupted again in Syria’s southern Suwayda province as a fragile ceasefire between Druze and Bedouin factions collapsed less than 24 hours after it was announced. The resurgence of violence followed the withdrawal of Syrian government troops from the area, raising concerns of deeper tribal conflict and possible regional escalation.
Despite widespread reports of redeployments, Syria’s Ministry of Interior denied claims that government forces were returning to the Druze-majority province. “We confirm that no official statement has been issued in this regard, and we categorically deny the veracity of what was published,” said ministry spokesperson Noureddine al-Baba via state media.
He added that security forces remain in “a normal state of readiness” and have not yet been deployed to Suwayda.
Meanwhile, an unnamed Israeli official told reporters that Israel had agreed to a limited 48-hour presence of Syria’s internal security forces in Suwayda, citing ongoing instability in the region. The move follows Israeli airstrikes on Suwayda and Damascus earlier in the week, which Israel claimed were aimed at protecting the Druze community.
On Friday, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed renewed clashes west of Suwayda city. According to the group, the fighting involved government-aligned Bedouin tribes battling Druze factions. It was also reported that fighters on both sides acknowledged the exchange of fire.
Verified footage published online and reviewed documented the sounds of heavy clashes in rural Suwayda, with reinforcements arriving to support tribal fighters already spread across the region. In one video, Bedouin leader Abdul Moneim al-Naseef, surrounded by armed tribesmen, called for a national tribal mobilization, “To the tribes in all Syrian provinces head immediately to Suwayda to save our people from massacres and ethnic cleansing.”
The latest escalation comes after days of intense fighting between government forces and local groups. Although a ceasefire was agreed on Wednesday, it has failed to hold. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that at least 321 people have been killed in Suwayda since Sunday.
Syria’s Minister of Disaster Management, Raed al-Saleh, confirmed that hundreds of families have been evacuated. He said more than 570 wounded are receiving treatment, and 87 bodies have been recovered.
The conflict has also drawn outside involvement, with Israeli airstrikes intensifying the situation. Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr, reporting from Damascus, described the violence as “a very dangerous escalation,” noting that it highlights old tribal divisions worsened by Syria’s ongoing instability since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December last year.
“It is an old fault line between Bedouin tribes and some Druze factions,” Khodr explained. “But this time around, it is a different situation because Bedouin tribes are calling for the state’s intervention.”
Political analyst Labib al-Nahhas said that Israel may now see limited Syrian security presence as a “middle ground” to prevent wider bloodshed. “Israel’s allies are under threat, so they need to intervene,” he said. “The middle ground solution is to allow in security forces, not the army, for a limited period.”
The United Nations also raised alarm on Friday, warning of serious human rights violations by all parties involved. UN rights chief Volker Turk said, “This bloodshed and the violence must stop, and the protection of all people must be the utmost priority.”
The UN refugee agency expressed concern over humanitarian access in Suwayda. “It is very difficult for us to operate there,” said spokesperson William Spindler. “Our capacity to deliver aid is very limited. We are calling on all parties to allow humanitarian access.”
As clashes deepen and alliances harden, Suwayda’s future remains uncertain and the risk of wider regional conflict looms.
Erizia Rubyjeana
The post Druze-Bedouin Clashes Erupt Again in Suwayda as Ceasefire Crumbles, Israel Watches Closely appeared first on Arise News.
