Damascus [Syria], July 15: Clashes between Bedouins and Druze in Syria have left at least 37 people dead, in the bloodiest outbreak of violence since May.
Yesterday (July 14), the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR, based in the UK) quoted sources as saying that at least 37 people were killed in the latest conflict between Bedouin tribes and Druze militias in the city of Sweida in the province of the same name in southern Syria. Bedouins are mainly Sunni Muslim tribes while the Druze are an ethnic and religious minority, originating from Islam but considered an independent religion. According to Reuters, the two sides have clashed before, but this is the first time fighting has occurred in Sweida, which is mainly inhabited by Druze people.
The violence began after a series of kidnappings, including the arrest and beating of a Druze merchant on the highway linking Sweida to the capital Damascus, according to SOHR. The Druze then took several Bedouin tribesmen in retaliation, sparking the escalation. The Bedouins continued to set up checkpoints and arrest more Druze on July 13. Heavy shelling was reported in the area, causing casualties and property damage, Ynet News reported. Among the dead were 27 Druze and 10 Bedouins.
Sweida Governor Mustapha al-Bakur has called for restraint while Druze spiritual leaders have called on the government to intervene. Syria's SANA news agency reported that the government had deployed security forces to the border of Sweida and Daraa provinces. Syria's Interior Ministry said it would intervene directly to resolve the conflict.
The clashes are the latest in a series of bloody conflicts in Syria since President Bashar al-Assad was ousted by opposition forces in December 2024. In May, following similar clashes, President Ahmed al-Sharaa met with Druze leaders and the governor of Sweida province to discuss ways to ease tensions and promote unity. Clashes between the new government's security forces and Druze in April and May left dozens dead.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper