Bloody fighting in Suwaida: Druze and Bedouins in the fight for survival!

Bloody fighting in Suwaida: Druze and Bedouins in the fight for survival!

The situation in the Syrian city of Suwayda remains tense, but after days of bloody unrest the situation is currently under control. In recent days there have been fierce fighting between Druze militias and Sunni Muslim Bedouin tribes, further increasing nervousness among the civilian population. According to the Syrian state news agency Sana, the neighborhoods have now been cleared of all tribal fighters, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports a cautious calm in Suwayda.

The conflict escalated about a week ago with a robbery of a Druze vegetable seller, followed by kidnappings and further outbreaks of violence. Social media networks have shared footage of these fierce battles. So far, almost 1,000 people have died in the unrest, including almost 100 soldiers from the Syrian army. The violence has not only spread to Suwayda; The situation is also deteriorating in the surrounding area, with the Syrian government trying to re-establish its control over the region. However, this is perceived by the Druze as targeted aggression.

International reactions and military interventions

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed concern and called for an immediate cessation of fighting in the region, while sharply criticizing ongoing rapes and the "slaughter of innocent people." Israel has also taken on a role in the conflict: Israeli forces reportedly bombed several government targets in Damascus to protect the Druze. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that he would fire on Syrian government troops until they withdraw. Pressure on the Syrian government, particularly over the protection of minorities, is increasing as reports of atrocities continue to emerge.

However, the Syrian government under the new President Ahmed Al-Sharaa does not see itself as a neutral force of law and order. Rather, it is perceived as part of the conflict because its units are actively fighting on the side of the Sunni Bedouins. Security analysts warn that the Druze are increasingly worried about massacres and possible genocide if the conflict escalates further.

The role of the Druze and local dynamics

The Druze, a religious minority that developed from Shiite Islam, live primarily in Suwayda. With around 700,000 members in Syria, they are the largest Druze community in the world. Tensions between them and other ethnic groups such as the Sunni Bedouins are not new and were further fueled by the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Since then, there has been frequent violence in various parts of the country, and distrust of the government has only exacerbated the problems.

According to Druze leader Hikmet al Hijri, in the current situation, the Druze are not willing to cooperate with the government to ensure their security. Civilians report that state security forces have arbitrarily tried and executed Druze. In this chaotic environment, activists like Jabr al-Shoufi are trying to find compromises and strengthen local security forces to stop the escalation.

In a complex geopolitical context, support from countries such as the US for a strong central government in Syria is also a contentious issue, as it increases distrust among the Druze and other minorities. So there is a lot at stake, both for the civilian population and for the parties to the conflict.