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Bedouin families forced to leave Suwayda despite years of peaceful coexistence
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Local authorities in Syria's predominantly Druze southern Suwayda province have provided temporary shelter for displaced Arab Bedouin families at a local hotel, ahead of their relocation outside the province, Rudaw has learned. The move follows the recent agreement that ended deadly clashes between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribes that left hundreds dead.
A local activist in Suwayda, identified only by the initials A.F. for security reasons, told Rudaw that the Bedouin families had been forced from several towns within the province, prompting urgent humanitarian assistance and relocation measures.
Adel Mohsen Basiri, originally from neighboring Daraa province and a 15-year resident of Qanawat village northeast of Suwayda city, expressed deep reluctance about leaving.
'I didn't want to leave my home, and no one forced me to, but we felt we no longer had anyone here. So, we have to go,' he told Rudaw, stressing the positive relations his family had built with the local Druze community. 'We want to stay. They treated us very well. We have friends whom we visit and who visit us.'
Youssef Ali, another displaced resident who had settled in the town of Atil after fleeing Syria's northern Aleppo province, echoed the sentiment. 'They have shown me nothing but kindness,' he said about his Druze neighbors, adding, 'When I left, my neighbors were very upset and urged me not to. But we had to leave because of the current situation.'
According to official figures, 1,838 Arab Bedouins have been evacuated from Suwayda in six convoys organized by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent in recent days.
The relocation follows violent clashes that began on July 13, involving local Druze fighters and Bedouin tribes who were reportedly supported by Syrian government forces.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported a death toll of 1,120 by July 20.
Fighting subsided after a US-brokered ceasefire on July 18 between Syria and Israel, following Israeli airstrikes in Syria in support of the Druze community, which further complicated the situation. The ceasefire was followed by an order from Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, for a truce between the Druze fighters and Bedouin tribes.
Although displaced Bedouin residents expressed gratitude for the kindness shown by their Druze neighbors, the exact reasons behind their forced departure and the long-term consequences of their removal remain unclear.
Hussein Omar contributed to this article.
