Reports indicate that nearly 600 people have lost their lives due to escalating clashes between the Druze and Bedouin factions in southern Syria. Amid government forces' retreat and Israeli airstrikes, local leaders are urging for continued resistance.
Sectarian Strife in Southern Syria Claims Nearly 600 Lives Amid Government Forces Withdrawals
Sectarian Strife in Southern Syria Claims Nearly 600 Lives Amid Government Forces Withdrawals
A violent conflict between the Druze and Bedouin communities in southern Syria has resulted in substantial casualties and a call for further resistance against government forces.
The recent outbreak of violence in southern Syria has left nearly 600 individuals dead, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (SOHR). This increase in brutality is centered in Suweida province and has taken on a distinctly sectarian nature, particularly as fighting escalated between the Druze and Bedouin communities.
The SOHR documented that 594 deaths occurred during the clashes that erupted Sunday, with the Druze religious minority suffering the most. Among them, 300 members were reported killed, including 146 fighters and 154 civilians; markedly, 83 of these civilians are said to have been "summarily executed" by government forces. In addition, at least 257 personnel from the Syrian government and 18 Bedouin fighters also perished during this turmoil. Conflicting reports from other monitoring organizations have varied on military casualties, with some estimating the civilian death toll to be about 169.
The unrest was initially triggered by a disagreement between the Druze and Bedouin residents. In a notable turn of events, there were reports of Israeli airstrikes killing 15 government personnel—an action Israel stated was to protect the Druze community and prompt a withdrawal of government forces from Suweida.
Despite a ceasefire announced by the Syrian government, tensions remained high. Leading Druze figure Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri has rejected the ceasefire, advocating for ongoing fighting until complete liberation of the province from perceived government oppression. Sheikh Hajri’s stance reflects the fracturing sentiment within the Druze community, which is divided between those supporting the government's newfound Islamist-led regime and those that oppose it.
Amid these developments, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asserted that Israel will continue its military operations to safeguard its interests and protect the Druze, indicating a willingness to escalate its interventions in Syria amid ongoing instability. Concurrently, Syrian interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa condemned these Israeli actions, asserting they were undermining national stability during this critical juncture.
Negotiations to resolve the conflict are urgently needed as hundreds of Bedouin civilians face displacement and ongoing violence grows increasingly dire. The discord in southern Syria underscores the fragile reality of mixed religious communities within the region and the complexities of external influences influencing local dynamics.
