Suweida: Sectarian clashes in southern Syria continue unabated despite the announcement of an "immediate ceasefire" by the country's president. Reports indicate that Druze fighters successfully expelled Bedouin gunmen from Suweida city on Saturday, though skirmishes persist in other areas of the province.
According to BBC, interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa's deployed government forces have been accused of participating in attacks against the Druze community. The ongoing violence has resulted in over 900 reported deaths in the past week, with all parties involved being accused of committing atrocities. The Syrian interior ministry claimed on Saturday evening that clashes in Suweida had ceased following the intervention of its forces, yet Reuters reported that fighting continued elsewhere in the province.
Earlier in the week, Israel expressed support for the Druze community and intervened by targeting government forces and the defense ministry in Damascus. The ceasefire, announced by Sharaa on Saturday, aimed to deploy Syrian security forces to Suweida to quell the violence. This agreement, which included a cessation of Israeli military actions, was part of a US-brokered deal contingent on the protection of Druze citizens.
Despite these efforts, gunfire was reported in Suweida on Saturday, and AFP reported sightings of armed individuals looting and setting fire to shops. Israel's foreign minister expressed skepticism regarding the president's renewed assurances to safeguard minorities in Syria. The Druze community, which follows a distinctive faith derived from Shia Islam, remains wary of the Damascus government and is a minority in Syria, Israel, and Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed his commitment to shielding the Druze in Syria, citing their connections to the Druze population in Israel. Long-standing tensions between Druze and Bedouin tribes in Suweida escalated into deadly clashes last week, following the abduction of a Druze merchant on the highway to Damascus.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (SOHR) reports that 940 individuals have perished since the outbreak of violence. The ceasefire between Israel and Syria, announced by US special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack, calls for all factions, including Druze, Bedouins, and Sunnis, to disarm and collaboratively establish a unified Syrian identity.
BBC's Middle East correspondent Lina Sinjab highlighted the spread of violence against the Druze across Syria. UN human rights chief Volker Trk reported credible accounts of widespread violations during the clashes, including summary executions and arbitrary killings. Alleged perpetrators include security forces, interim government affiliates, and local Druze and Bedouin armed groups. Trk emphasized the need for accountability and an end to the bloodshed.
In a statement, the Syrian leader reiterated his commitment to protecting all minorities and sects and vowed to hold violators accountable, regardless of their affiliation.