Renewed Clashes Between Druze and Bedouin Tribes Prompt Government Forces to Return to Suwayda
A Syrian Interior Ministry spokesperson confirmed Friday that security forces are preparing to redeploy in the city of Suwayda, predominantly populated by Druze, in order to quell renewed clashes between Druze factions and Bedouin tribes. This development follows reports that Hikmat al-Hijri, one of the Druze spiritual leaders, requested the government’s intervention to stop the escalating conflict.
Late Thursday, the Syrian presidency accused Druze fighters in Suwayda of breaching the ceasefire agreement under which government forces had previously withdrawn from the southern province. Meanwhile, Arab tribes launched attacks on the region, allegedly in retaliation for assaults committed against Bedouin communities.
In a statement, the presidency condemned what it called “lawless factions”—a term frequently used by Damascus to describe Druze militias—for initiating a “horrific wave of violence” widely documented and violating all principles of mediation. It warned that such actions pose a direct threat to civil peace and could plunge the region into chaos.
The statement also denounced “blatant Israeli interference in Syria’s internal affairs,” which, it claimed, only serves to worsen regional instability.
According to Syrian authorities, the decision to withdraw troops had been motivated by a desire to avoid further escalation and to honor a US-Arab mediation effort. However, that truce was contingent upon the Druze factions refraining from acts of retaliation or civilian violence.
The government urged all parties to show restraint and reaffirmed its full commitment to holding accountable anyone involved in acts of violence, regardless of their affiliation. It also reiterated its pledge to protect all Syrians and to take necessary steps to ensure national security and sovereignty.
Meanwhile, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey issued a joint statement condemning repeated Israeli attacks on Syrian territory. They labeled the strikes as flagrant violations of international law and as threats to Syria’s sovereignty and regional stability.
On Thursday, Syrian Arab tribes declared a general mobilization to support Bedouin tribes in Suwayda. In a statement, tribal leaders accused the “terrorist al-Hijri militia” of committing mass killings and forced displacements of Bedouin families and called on the government not to interfere with reinforcements coming to assist them.
They warned that any action taken against those fighters would be seen as siding with the perpetrators of the violence, asserting that the tribes would respond in unified resistance.
Armed tribal groups advanced toward Suwayda from the north, taking control of several key towns, including al-Mazraa. The state-run SANA news agency reported that Israeli forces conducted an airstrike near the city Thursday evening.
The U.S. State Department stated on Thursday that the United States had not supported the latest Israeli strikes in Syria. Spokeswoman Tami Bruce told reporters that Washington had expressed strong displeasure at the escalation and worked quickly to de-escalate the situation.
Bruce emphasized that the U.S. remains diplomatically engaged with both Israel and Syria and continues to work toward a long-term agreement between the two sovereign states. She refrained from commenting on past or future Israeli military actions but underlined that President Biden had made Washington’s discontent clear.
The U.S. also reiterated its call for all sides to de-escalate and continue negotiations aimed at preserving Syrian unity. On its part, the French government urged Israel to refrain from unilateral actions in Syria. In a statement, the French Foreign Ministry expressed concern over ongoing tensions in Suwayda and emphasized the importance of restoring humanitarian access and essential services.
France reiterated its commitment to Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, insisting that all parties abide strictly by the ceasefire agreement.
