Clashes resume in Syria's Druze city of Sweida, Israel vows more strikes
The outbreak of violence in the predominantly Druze province in southern Syria has highlighted frictions among Syria's diverse communities, with minorities feeling deep distrust towards the government now in power.
Syrian troops were dispatched to the province on Monday to quell fighting between Druze fighters and Bedouin armed men but ended up clashing with the Druze fighters.
The fighting drew in Israel, which carried out air strikes on government forces on Monday and Tuesday under the aim of protecting the Druze.
A ceasefire announced by Syria's defence ministry on Tuesday night was short-lived.
Local news outlet Sweida24 said the city of Sweida and nearby villages were coming under heavy artillery and mortar fire early on Wednesday. Syria's defence ministry, in a statement carried by state news agency SANA, blamed outlaw groups in Sweida for breaching the truce.
The defence ministry called on residents of the city to stay indoors.
Dozens of civilians, government troops and Druze fighters have been killed since the fighting erupted on Sunday.
Civilians and Reuters reporters in the city said that government forces had looted and burned homes, stealing cars and furniture from homes on Tuesday.
Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday warned the Syrian government to "leave Druze alone" and that the military would continue to strike Syrian government forces until they pulled back.
US Syria envoy Tom Barrack said on Tuesday that the United States was in contact with all sides "to navigate towards calm and integration".
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Middle East Eye
2 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Syrian Bedouins 'massacred' by Druze anti-government militias, says state media
Druze anti-government militias have carried out "massacres" against Bedouins in southern Syria's Sweida province following the withdrawal of government forces, according to state media. SANA said the groups attacked the al-Maqous neighbourhood in Sweida and committed "massacres against women and children" as well as carrying out field executions. Unverified images circulated on social media appeared to show several dead bodies lying on the ground. Government forces withdrew from Sweida on Thursday after days of violence between Druze, Bedouins and government forces, exacerbated by Israeli air strikes. More to follow...
The National
4 hours ago
- The National
What is Israel's intention behind 'protecting' Druze in Syria?
Israel 's most recent attacks against government troops in Syria are an example of its use of the Druze minority group as a 'pawn' in a wider strategy, analysts have told The National. Days ago, members of the Druze community in Sweida and Bedouins clashed in a local dispute that soon escalated – bringing state intervention by Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara's army. But soon after, videos began emerging of Al Shara linked-troops harassing and cracking down on Druze leaders. Israel launched attacks, saying that it would protect the Druze in Syria. Its army attacked key symbols of power in Damascus including the presidential palace, the Defence Ministry and the army headquarters. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also warned Israeli Druze living in the occupied Golan Heights against flocking to Sweida, but some did anyway. The issues have brought back concerns of sectarian bloodshed in post-Bashar Al Assad Syria, particularly with the Druze not enjoying the same stability they once did under the long-time dictator. 'Netanyahu right now is trying to contain the dangers this has opened up. He's using the Druze as a pawn in a larger chessboard to keep Syria weak and divided,' said Joshua Landis, a Syria expert and head of the Centre for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma. Mr Netanyahu also had to appease people in his own country, as Israeli Druze make up a sizeable portion of the army. The conflict comes with Mr Netanyahu in deep political peril as rebellious ultra-Orthodox parties bring his coalition to the brink of collapse. 'His loyalty is to the Druze in Israel. It is an important miniroty that serves in the military. So Israel is using the Druze of Syria as a pretext to weaken the government there,' Mr Landis said. Syrian approach Rahaf Al Doughli, an assistant professor at Lancaster University, said Israel's behaviour is not unexpected, but is also linked to the Syrian government's approach to the sectarian problem, which she described as one-sided. Sectarian strife has repeatedly undermined Mr Al Shara's attempts to consolidate control of Syria since the rebel offensive that installed him in power last year. 'I don't think it's very strange for Israel to manipulate and instrumentalise sectarian identities in the region. It's a tactic,' Prof Al Doughli said. Knowing that sectarian tension had been long present in the region, Prof Al Doughli said the Syrian state came in 'without neutrality' appearing as if to use one community against the other. 'Instead of asking why Israel is bombing the Syrian army the question should be why the Druze community in Syria would ever need protection by Israel,' she said.
Middle East Eye
5 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Turkey doesn't have many options against Israel in Syria
When senior Turkish officials met their Israeli counterparts in April in Baku for secret talks, the atmosphere was unexpectedly cordial. In their initial meeting, the two sides agreed to establish a hotline to prevent accidents, as both countries had troops, aircraft and drones operating in Syria. That evening, the heads of each delegation and their teams dined together at a local restaurant, led by a senior Turkish intelligence official and a senior Israeli national security official. As the group was enjoying their meal, something unexpected happened: Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Farzaneh Sadegh, who was on an official visit to Baku, entered the restaurant. While she sipped her tea, Azerbaijani bodyguards discreetly indicated to her guide that she was in the wrong place. Sadegh was quickly ushered out, apparently without recognising any members of the Turkish-Israeli delegation. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The incident echoed the situation in Syria: as the Iranians were kicked out of Syria, both Israel and Turkey were pursuing their own specific interests, which sometimes align but are often at odds. Building and losing confidence Having long backed the Syrian opposition to Bashar al-Assad, Turkey has very close ties to the new rulers in Damascus. When Israel targeted several Syrian air bases in April that were about to be taken over by the Turkish military for training local forces and conducting operations against the Islamic State group, Ankara's response was measured. Encouraged by the Americans, Turkey chose to engage with Israel and seek a middle ground. The Israelis had two main concerns: if Turkey deployed sophisticated radar and air defences at the T4 air base, Israeli air operations - including strikes against Iran - would be exposed. They were also wary of Turkish air defence systems potentially deterring some of their air operations altogether. To address these issues, Turkish officials included their Syrian counterparts in subsequent meetings in Baku. As a confidence-building measure, the Syrians agreed not to deploy military forces to certain areas in southern Syria. With Damascus strikes, Israel seeks to tear up Trump's vision for Syria Read More » Ankara sought to demonstrate to Israel that it did not intend for Syria to become a threat to Israeli security. Three months later, however, another crisis indicated that talks with Israel had not resolved the underlying disagreements over Syria. After bloody clashes between Druze and Bedouin militias broke out on Sunday, the Syrian government deployed troops to Sweida at the request of local authorities, prompting Israel to launch severe strikes against the Syrian army. As Syrian forces regained control over more territory in the province, Israeli jets continued attacking targets in Damascus, including the Syrian defence ministry and areas near the Presidential Palace. The air strikes on the capital on Wednesday were particularly surprising, as they coincided with another meeting between Syrian and Israeli officials in Baku, following Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's visit to Azerbaijan over the weekend. These Israeli attacks left Turkey in a difficult position, with little leverage beyond urging Washington to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into accepting a ceasefire. On Wednesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan unexpectedly revealed that Turkey had conveyed its views and suggestions regarding the Sweida crisis to Israel through intelligence channels, but noted that a ceasefire would only be possible after US mediation. His statement signalled that Ankara was still trying to engage Israel through direct channels rather than confront it. Avoiding Iran's mistakes On social media, some called for Turkey to deploy its air defence systems to deter further Israeli strikes, while others argued Ankara should immediately take control of Syrian military bases to prevent more aggression. Privately, Turkish officials told Middle East Eye they had no desire to risk a direct confrontation with Israel in Syria or turn it into another battleground, especially after 13 years of civil war. They also worry that such tensions would poison the efforts to reconstruct Syria as a state and also concern international investors, as both Syria and Turkey try to attract foreign capital for their respective economies. 'The international community - especially the United States, the European Union, and regional countries - must show some sensitivity and put a stop to Israel' - Hakan Fidan, Turkish foreign minister Officials believe all crises should be resolved through diplomacy, as Israel tends to use military confrontations as justification for its expansionist agenda. Turkey is also keen not to repeat Iran's mistakes in Syria. It does not want to undermine the legitimacy of the Sharaa government or seek regional dominance as Tehran did with its backing of Assad. However, Ankara suspects that Israel is deliberately provoking crises and using them as a pretext to further destabilise the region through military strikes. Israeli officials have made it clear they believe Syria should be partitioned. Even if Turkey wanted to rely on hard power, it faces significant limitations. 'For the Turkish army to ensure the security of Syrian airspace over Damascus, it would need air defence systems and aerial assets capable of the task,' said Yusuf Akbaba, a Turkish defence industry expert, in a now-deleted X post on Wednesday. 'With our current inventory, which is insufficient even for Turkey's own protection, we cannot defend another country.' He added that countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar have much better inventories than Turkey in this regard. Turkish air defences need modernising Turkey's ageing F-16 fighter jet fleet still requires modernisation through pending deals, such as Ankara's multibillion-dollar agreement with Washington and ongoing discussions over Eurofighter jets. Although Ankara possesses nationally produced Hisar short- and medium-range air defence systems, their numbers are limited. Turkish military planners even considered deploying Russian-made S-400 missiles to Syria, possibly at the T4 airbase, but Washington opposed the move. Iran receives Chinese surface-to-air missile batteries after Israel ceasefire deal Read More » Despite repeated visits by Turkish military officials to Damascus, there is little enthusiasm for establishing Turkish bases in Syria. The Turkish military, by tradition, is reluctant to set up bases deep in foreign soil, and after nearly a decade in Syria, there is little appetite for further adventurism. More importantly, the Syrian government is also unable to sign the necessary treaties to formally invite Ankara, as Sharaa has yet to establish the interim parliament envisioned by the new Syrian temporary constitution. Parliamentary ratification is required for such agreements. The prevailing view in Ankara is that diplomacy remains the best way to resolve the crisis with Israel, especially given that the Trump administration, Saudi Arabia and much of the Arab League support the new Syrian government. 'This is a very dangerous situation, not only for the region but also for Israel,' Fidan said on Wednesday. 'In other words, the international community - especially the United States, the European Union, and regional countries - must show some sensitivity and put a stop to Israel. Otherwise, it's safe to say that undesirable consequences will emerge in the region.'
