At least 89 people have been killed in renewed sectarian violence in Syria’s Sweida province following clashes between Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze militias, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
The bloodshed began on Sunday after a Druze vegetable seller was reportedly kidnapped and humiliated by Bedouin gunmen en route to Damascus—a provocation that triggered swift retaliation by Druze fighters and escalated into open conflict
The violence, which extended into Monday, included mortar bombardment of villages around Sweida city and street fighting that forced many residents to stay indoors. Hospitals in the province reported admitting “dozens of victims,” while shops remained shuttered and public gatherings were halted
Syria’s Interior Ministry noted that the breakdown of local governance was fuelling the unrest, prompting deployment of troops to the area to restore order
Amid rising tensions, Israel launched airstrikes against Syrian military tanks in Sweida, stating its actions aimed to protect the Druze community—a move rooted in its self-declared role as a defender of the minority group
. Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al‑Hijri condemned the Syrian military’s incursion, accusing it of aiding Islamist militants rather than safeguarding local civilians
The United Nations has condemned the violence as a dangerous escalation, urging an immediate de-escalation and renewed efforts to protect civilians amid persistent sectarian tensions
The clashes underscore ongoing instability in post-Assad Syria, where fragile regional peace is continually threatened by deep-seated communal rivalries and ineffective governance.
