Inter-communal clashes in Sweida, a city and province in Southern Syria, which left more than 1,000 dead within a week, appear to be entering a new phase. A troubled calm has returned to the area today.
Syrian Government Assurances vs. International Concerns
The government of Ahmed Al-Sarra is seeking to reassure the international community about the situation in the southern Syrian province, stating that peace has returned to the region. Despite official declarations about the restoration of normalcy, the international Druze community and Israeli authorities are expressing serious concerns, as isolated outbreaks of tension continue in the area.
Druze in Israel Pressure for Intervention
The Druze community in Israel is escalating pressure on the Netanyahu government to provide immediate military protection for their kin in Syria. Approximately 2,000 Druze serving in the Israeli armed forces have sent an official letter to the government, declaring their readiness to intervene to protect their relatives in Sweida.
Simultaneously, Druze leaders continue to call for humanitarian aid, highlighting that Jordan has refused to establish an aid corridor through its territory. According to Israeli state television, an unidentified Jordanian official stated that Amman does not wish to cooperate with non-state Syrian actors. Israeli media, meanwhile, described the recent tripartite meeting of the foreign ministers of Jordan, Syria, and Turkey in Amman, where aid for Sweida residents was discussed, as a “pretext.”
Israel on High Alert
The Israeli government is officially maintaining a wait-and-see approach, avoiding confirmation of any ceasefire agreement with Syria. However, unconfirmed press reports indicate that special forces units have been moved to the Golan Heights border and are on high alert in case of new attacks against the Druze of southeastern Syria.
Divisions Within the Druze Community
Lebanon’s Druze leader, Walid Jumblatt, has distanced himself from the stance of his co-religionists in Israel, openly supporting Damascus. Jumblatt blames the violence in Sweida on “a portion of the Druze in the region” and Israeli destabilization efforts. He reiterates that the Druze position is within “a single and united Syria,” recalling relevant statements he made during his meeting with Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sarrah in December.
Heavy Casualties and Displacement
The latest report from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights records heavy casualties from the clashes: over 1,000 dead in Sweida alone during the last week. Among them, 336 Druze militants and 298 Druze civilians – 194 of whom were reportedly executed by Syrian government forces. On the side of the armed Bedouins, losses amount to 21, while 15 Syrian soldiers are also reported dead from Israeli airstrikes.
The number of people displaced by the conflicts is also significant, with the United Nations migration agency stating that the displaced have increased to more than 128,000.
