Suweida, Syria — A tenuous calm has descended upon Suweida in southern Syria, following a week of the deadliest sectarian violence the region has seen in years.
More than 1,000 people are reported to have been killed in clashes between the minority Druze community and armed Bedouin tribesmen, with both sides accusing each other—and the Syrian government—of atrocities.
On Monday, Syrian government troops escorted journalists within six miles of Suweida city, as far as safety would allow. “There are Druze snipers operating on the road ahead,” warned a Syrian army commander. Along the route, charred shopfronts, spent shell casings, and black-clad soldiers drinking tea marked the aftermath of intense street battles.
The fighting erupted amid longstanding tensions between the historically insular Druze sect and nomadic Bedouin tribes, further inflamed by political instability and a power vacuum left in the wake of Syria’s long civil war.
Four days ago, the Syrian military moved in to impose a ceasefire aimed at halting the violence. While the ceasefire is technically in place, local actors warn the situation is far from stable.
In the south, hundreds of armed Bedouin fighters were seen assembled along the roadside, brandishing weapons and firing into the air in defiance. “If the Druze don’t commit to the deal, we will re-enter Suweida again,” one tribal leader told the BBC, adding grimly, “even if it becomes our cemetery.”
Meanwhile, Druze factions have accused Syrian troops of siding with the Bedouin and committing summary executions. Although these claims remain unverified, they add to a deep sense of mistrust and fear on all sides.
Amid the chaos, the Syrian Red Crescent has attempted limited medical evacuations from Suweida. Riham Bermawi, a coordinator, described the situation as “catastrophic” with severe shortages of medicine and safe transport. Ambulances have come under sniper fire, making further missions risky.
At the main hospital in Deraa, wounded Syrian soldiers are being treated. One injured soldier, Ahmed, described horrific scenes of burned homes and mutilated children. “The situation was beyond imagination,” he said, his foot heavily bandaged from shrapnel wounds.
As Syria struggles to rebuild after years of war and recent political upheaval, local leaders are calling for unity. “We need to work more for Syria and to be united,” said Raed al-Saleh, the disaster response minister. Still, on the scorched roads to Suweida, peace remains a distant hope.