Deadly clashes have erupted in Suwayda, southern Syria, after Druze militias launched attacks on Bedouin tribesmen in retaliation for a kidnapping, despite no evidence linking the Bedouins to the incident.
At least 30 people were killed and nearly 100 injured in the city of Suwayda on Sunday after Druze fighters launched armed assaults on Bedouin communities, blaming them for the kidnapping of a Druze merchant.
The violence broke out in Suwayda’s Maqwas neighbourhood and quickly escalated into a full-scale confrontation involving medium and heavy weapons.
The Syrian Interior Ministry confirmed the death toll and described the situation as “bloody developments” between local armed groups and tribes.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported at least 37 dead, including 27 Druze, two of whom were children. Dozens of injured were taken to hospitals in Suwayda and the neighbouring city of Deraa. A number of Syrian soldiers were also killed while trying to intervene.
Interior Minister Anas Khattab blamed the unrest on the absence of functioning state institutions in the region. “There is no solution to this except imposing security and activating the role of institutions to ensure civil peace,” he posted on X.
The initial trigger was the abduction of a Druze merchant on the Damascus–Suwayda highway on Friday, according to eyewitnesses cited by Reuters.
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Despite no claims of responsibility or supporting evidence, armed Druze groups carried out retaliatory attacks on Bedouin civilians and vehicles, setting off the deadly spiral.
“This cycle of violence has exploded in a terrifying way,” said Rayan Marouf, a Druze researcher based in Suwayda. “If it doesn’t end, we are heading towards a bloodbath.”
This marks the most serious bout of intercommunal violence in the province since April and May, when dozens were killed in fighting between Druze militias and Syrian security forces.
Despite earlier ceasefires and calls for integration into the national military framework, many Druze groups have continued operating independently.
Suwayda is home to Syria’s largest Druze population — around 700,000 — many of whom formed local militias during the civil war. Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December and the rise of a transitional administration led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, tensions have deepened over whether these groups should accept the new central authority.
Governor Mustapha al-Bakour has urged restraint and called on all parties to support national reform efforts. Additional security units were deployed from neighbouring Daraa to contain the unrest and prevent it from spilling into other areas.
It should be noted that during previous bouts of unrest in Suwayda, the Israeli government openly voiced support for the Druze community, reflecting a relationship of mutual understanding between the two sides.
The events in Suwayda highlight the deep-rooted instability that continues to plague Syria in the wake of Assad’s fall. As armed groups act independently and sectarian tensions flare, the path to recovery under the transitional government remains fraught with challenges.
