By Lilian Ntege
Fierce clashes between Druze militias and Bedouin tribes in Syria’s southern province of Suweida have triggered a dramatic escalation, drawing Israeli airstrikes and urgent international mediation.
Over 350 people have reportedly been killed since Sunday in what has become the deadliest outbreak of sectarian violence in the area in months.
The Syrian army began withdrawing troops from Suweida on Wednesday night, following what U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described as “specific steps” agreed to end the bloodshed.
“We have agreed on specific steps that will bring this troubling and horrifying situation to an end tonight,” Rubio posted on X.
The violence which erupted after the abduction of a Druze merchant, quickly spiraled into open warfare as druze militias seized Bedouin neighbourhoods, prompting retaliatory attacks and the intervention of Syrian government forces. But rather than restoring order, residents accused the army of looting, arson, and abuse.
“It’s chaos. I lost my neighbor in broad daylight to sniper fire, we couldn’t even get him to a hospital,” said Hosam, a resident of Suweida city.
Israel, citing concerns for the Druze community, launched a series of airstrikes beginning Monday. One strike targeted Syria’s Ministry of Defence in central Damascus, shaking the capital. Defence Minister Israel Katz warned.
“The painful blows have begun,” and vowed continued action until Syrian forces withdraw.
A separate Israeli strike near the presidential palace underlined the growing intensity of the offensive. According to eyewitness Fadi Al Halabi, “People ran for their lives. The jets came, and then the bombing started.”
The Israeli military claims it hit armored convoys and weapons depots then route to Suweida. Syria, however, says the strikes killed civilians and damaged key infrastructure. Its foreign ministry condemned the attacks as “a flagrant violation of international law.”
The situation on the ground remains dire and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported severe shortages of water, medicine, and mounting casualties at hospitals, some of which have been shelled.
Among the dead are Druze fighters, Bedouin tribesmen, and government troops. “It’s a humanitarian catastrophe,” said a spokesperson for the UK-based monitoring group.
Though a ceasefire has now been announced, the damage is far from over. The Druze community long wary of the ruling government feels increasingly vulnerable, while the Bedouin tribes accuse local militias of provocation as peace talks begin, many are skeptical.
“We need more than promises,” said a Druze elder in Suweida. “We need protection. We need justice.”