Sweida, Syria – Violent clashes between Bedouin tribes and Druze fighters have continued to rock Syria’s southern Sweida province, defying a ceasefire announced by President Ahmed al-Sharaa and backed by international powers, including Israel, the United States, and Turkey. The ongoing conflict has claimed over 900 lives since erupting on Sunday.
Despite the Syrian government’s deployment of internal security forces to restore order and protect civilians, armed confrontations persisted Saturday on the western edges of the provincial capital. Local reports indicate that Druze forces remain locked in battle with Bedouin gunmen, some of whom have received reinforcements from Islamist-aligned tribal militias from across Syria.
Ceasefire Declaration Undermined by On-the-Ground Violence
Earlier in the week, the Syrian presidency declared an “immediate and comprehensive” ceasefire, pledging to restore peace in the predominantly Druze region and blaming Israeli intervention and local retaliation for escalating the violence. President Sharaa, in his second televised address since the fighting began, accused “armed groups from Sweida” of targeting Bedouin civilians, escalating sectarian tensions.
The Interior Ministry confirmed that internal security forces had entered Sweida to stabilize the area. “Their mission is to protect civilians and end the chaos,” said ministry spokesperson Noureddine al-Baba.
Israel and US Broker Ceasefire Deal
The ceasefire was brokered with help from U.S. Special Envoy Thomas Barrack, who announced on Saturday that Israel and Syria had agreed to end hostilities. The deal included support from Turkey and Jordan and came after Israeli airstrikes targeted a government building in Damascus in support of Druze militias.
Barrack urged all sides — including Druze, Bedouins, and Sunnis — to “put down their weapons” and work toward a unified and peaceful Syrian identity. President Sharaa echoed the sentiment, pledging renewed protection for Syria’s minority communities and hailing U.S. support during this “critical juncture.”
On-the-Ground Reality Paints Grim Picture
Despite the high-level diplomacy, AFP correspondents reported sustained firefights in Sweida. One tribal fighter, Abu Jassem, told AFP: “We will slaughter them [the Druze] in their homes,” highlighting the raw sectarian rage fueling the conflict. Druze militias, in turn, accused Islamist fighters of joining the Bedouin ranks.
A leading Druze religious authority, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, endorsed the ceasefire, emphasizing the need to open humanitarian corridors for trapped civilians. Yet with hostilities ongoing, aid workers warn that the situation remains dire for thousands of displaced residents.
International Reaction: Scepticism and Calls for Accountability
The European Union welcomed the ceasefire agreement but condemned the “appalling” sectarian violence, while Israel voiced scepticism over President Sharaa’s promises to protect minorities. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar noted past violence against Druze, Alawites, and Christians under Sharaa’s regime, calling Syria under his rule “dangerous for all minorities.”
Meanwhile, the UN renewed its call for an immediate end to hostilities and demanded an independent investigation into the violence. According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), at least 940 people from both sides have died since Sunday, with many more injured or displaced.
A Fragile Peace in Question
As ceasefire agreements falter and foreign actors weigh in, Syria teeters on the edge of renewed sectarian war. Whether Sharaa’s promises and international diplomacy can rein in deep-seated mistrust and bloodshed remains uncertain — but the cost of failure is already being counted in lives lost and communities torn apart.