Around 600 people have been killed as violent battles in south Syria rage on between Israel-backed Druze militants and Sunni Bedouin tribes.
A monitoring group says 594 people have been killed during the recent violence in southern Syria that took on a sectarian dimension.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (SOHR) documented a significant outbreak of brutality in the killings that have gripped Suweida province since Sunday.
Three hundred members of the Druze religious minority were killed, including 146 fighters and 154 civilians, 83 of whom were “summarily executed” by government forces, the SOHR said on Thursday evening.
At least 257 government personnel and 18 Bedouin fighters were also killed, while three Bedouin civilians were summarily killed by Druze fighters, it added.
Fighting has continued despite a U.S. brokered ceasefire agreement which was announced on Wednesday appeared to settle the dispute.
Syrian government forces announced they were withdrawing from the area following the deal’s announcement, which Washington claims involved the input from Turkiye, Syria and Israel.
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However, shortly after the withdrawal began, reports claimed that Druze armed gangs were continuing the attack Bedouin homes, force expel Sunnis from the area and engage in criminal actions.
This led to a call to arms by senior tribal leaders across Syria. According to local reports, thousands of armed Sunni Bedouins began traveling in large convoys to Suwayda to join the fight.
Damascus has since redeployed forces to the south but Damascus has made clear that government forces have not entered Suwayda.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday told Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that the clashes following Syrian forces’ withdrawal from Suwayda pose a threat to the entire region.
In a phone call, the two leaders discussed bilateral ties as well as regional and global issues, according to Türkiye’s Communications Directorate on X.
Erdogan said Türkiye aims to ensure stability and security in Syria and support the country’s recovery, emphasising that it is important that Israel does not violate Syria’s sovereignty.
Stressing the importance of initiating the third round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, Erdogan said that Türkiye will continue to host the peace talks in Istanbul as soon as the parties agree on dates.
On Friday, as the latest day of vicious fighting comes to a close, Syrian state media and journalists on the ground claim the Damascus-backed Bedouin fighters and Syrian armed forces have made progress, pushing back the Druze militants.
However, if Syrian forces decide to push on into Suwayda onlookers suspect Israel may decide to attack Syria again in a bid to prop up their Druze allies and prevent armed Sunni fighters from approaching the border.
Israel’s continued meddling
Israel is using the Druze community in southern Syria as a pretext to expand its influence beyond its borders while publicly framing the move as humanitarian assistance following the announcement of a financial aid package to the Syrian province of Suwayda on Friday.
According to Israeli Channel 12, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has approved the transfer of 2 million shekels (approximately $540,000) in aid to Druze communities in Suwayda.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry claimed the aid was intended for humanitarian purposes. However, the timing and nature of the announcement have sparked questions about Tel Aviv’s deeper intentions.
On Wednesday, Israeli forces launched airstrikes on more than 160 targets across four areas of Syria – Suwayda, Daraa, Damascus and the Damascus countryside – killing three people and injuring 34 in the capital alone.
The Israeli Public Broadcaster KAN reported on Friday that in light of ongoing armed clashes near the Druze-majority stronghold, Israeli authorities have “agreed to permit the temporary entry of Syrian regime security personnel into Suwayda.”
The broadcaster said the move is restricted to 48 hours and comes as part of a “calculated effort to prevent further escalation along Israel’s northeastern frontier.”
Meanwhile, the Syrian Interior Ministry denied reports that government security forces had entered Suwayda.
“Some agencies and media channels have circulated inaccurate news regarding the entry of internal security forces into Suwayda province,” ministry spokesman Noureddin al-Baba said in a statement.
According to Baba, security forces remain “at normal readiness” and “have not been deployed or mobilized in the province so far.”
