Death toll rises to 18 in Druze-Bedouin clashes in Syria's Sweida

14/7/2025 6:12

At least 18 people were killed and around 50 others wounded in fierce clashes on Sunday between members of the local Druze community and Bedouin tribes in Syria's southern province of Sweida, according to local media and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).

The SOHR reported that the deaths included 14 members of the Druze community and four Bedouin tribesmen. Among the injured were several children and individuals in critical condition.

The violence has intensified in several areas of Sweida, particularly in the eastern al-Muqawwas neighborhood, where heavy gunfire and mutual shelling were reported. The fighting later spread to the western and northern countryside of Sweida, including near the village of al-Tayra, where a Druze man was reportedly killed.

Additionally, the village of Lbeen came under attack from the western side, leading to further armed confrontations. In the northern countryside, gunmen from Bedouin groups launched an assault on police checkpoints near the village of al-Sura al-Kabira, triggering fierce clashes with the security forces. Mortar shells fired by the attackers landed in the vicinity of the village as they attempted to advance toward the checkpoint.

Reinforcements from neighboring Daraa province were reportedly deployed on Sunday by armed groups supporting the Bedouin tribes. Dozens of fighters from the Houran region arrived in vehicles to back their affiliates in Sweida's western and northern areas.

The SOHR warned of a potential further escalation in the coming hours following deadly attacks earlier in the day. Tensions have continued to mount, particularly after the closure of the Damascus-Sweida highway at al-Masmiyah checkpoint and several other points, including near the town of Burraq in rural Damascus.

The root of the conflict lies in an earlier incident in which a young Druze man was assaulted and robbed by armed Bedouins at a temporary checkpoint near al-Masmiyah. In retaliation, local Druze fighters detained several members of the Bedouin community, escalating the situation.

With no official intervention announced yet, local community leaders are attempting to mediate and negotiate the release of detainees from both sides. Meanwhile, residents remain on high alert amid growing concerns about further violence.