Clashes Kill 37 in Predominantly Druze Syrian City

Fresh violence has erupted in Syria’s southern Sweida province, where intense clashes between Bedouin tribes and local Druze fighters have claimed the lives of at least 37 individuals, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The fighting marks the most severe confrontation in the area since fatal skirmishes between Druze residents and security forces earlier this year.

Rising Tensions Turn Lethal

The Syrian Observatory reported that 27 Druze—among them two children—and 10 Bedouins were killed during the latest escalation. The outbreak of violence has forced the closure of the key Damascus–Sweida highway, signaling a significant disruption to regional movement and commerce.

The Syrian interior ministry offered a slightly higher casualty figure, stating that over 30 people had died and nearly 100 more were wounded. In response, it announced that, in coordination with the Ministry of Defense, it would dispatch troops to the conflict zone. The goal, according to an official statement, is to “intervene directly to resolve the conflict, end the hostilities, restore security, apprehend those responsible, and bring them to justice.”

Military Deployment and Calls for Calm

State media outlet SANA confirmed the deployment of security forces along the administrative boundary between the neighboring Daraa and Sweida provinces. This area has seen a surge in unrest in recent months, prompting officials and religious leaders alike to appeal for restraint.

Sweida Governor Mustapha al-Bakur issued a public appeal for calm, urging locals to show “self-restraint” and to support the state’s efforts for reform. Likewise, several influential Druze spiritual figures have echoed calls for de-escalation and requested the central government in Damascus to step in and mediate.

Disrupted Daily Life and Escalating Unrest

As a result of the ongoing clashes, Syria’s Ministry of Education announced that all official secondary school exams scheduled in Sweida for Monday would be postponed indefinitely. The violence not only threatens lives but also the region’s broader civil infrastructure and public order.

Historically, Sweida has been a stronghold of the Druze community, whose pre-civil war population in Syria was estimated at around 700,000. The province is considered the spiritual heartland of the Druze faith in Syria.

Clashes between Bedouin and Druze factions have long been part of the region’s complex social fabric, fueled by territorial disputes, historical grievances, and resource competition. However, the frequency and severity of confrontations have increased in the power vacuum left by years of civil conflict.