Latest news with #Bedouinclans
Al Jazeera
3 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Photos: Syria's Bedouin clans withdraw from Druze city of Suwayda
Published On 21 Jul 2025 21 Jul 2025 Syria's armed Bedouin clans have announced their withdrawal from the Druze-majority city of Suwayda after weeklong clashes and a United States-brokered ceasefire. Fighting between Druze fighters and Sunni Muslim clans killed more than 250 people and threatened to unravel Syria's already fragile post-war transition. Israel also launched dozens of air strikes in the southern province of Suwayda, targeting government forces, who had in effect sided with the Bedouins. The fighting also led to a series of sectarian attacks against the Druze community, followed by revenge attacks against the Bedouins. Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has been perceived as more sympathetic to the Bedouins, tried to appeal to the Druze community while remaining critical of its fighters. He later urged the Bedouins to leave the city, saying they 'cannot replace the role of the state in handling the country's affairs and restoring security'. Dozens of armed Bedouins alongside other clans from around the country who came to support them remained on the outskirts of Suwayda as government security forces and military police were deployed on Sunday to oversee their exit from the entire province. The Bedouin fighters blamed the clashes on Druze factions loyal to spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri and accused them of harming Bedouin families. The Syrian government on Monday began evacuating Bedouin families trapped inside Suwayda. Syrian state media said on Sunday that the government had coordinated with some officials in Suwayda to bring in coaches to evacuate about 1,500 Bedouins from the city. Interior Minister Ahmad al-Dalati told the SANA news agency that the initiative would also allow displaced civilians from Suwayda to return because the fighting has largely stopped and efforts for a complete ceasefire are ongoing. Syrian authorities did not give further details about the evacuation or how it ties into the broader agreement after failed talks for a captive exchange deal.
Washington Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Syrian government forces set to re-enter Sweida province after renewed Druze-Bedouin clashes
DAMASCUS, Syria — Renewed clashes broke out overnight between Druze armed groups and members of Bedouin clans in southern Syria, and government forces were preparing to deploy again to the area Friday after pulling out under a ceasefire agreement that halted several days of violence earlier this week, officials said.
The Independent
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Deadly clashes threaten Syria's fragile peace
Dozens of people were killed as clashes broke out between armed groups from the Druze religious minority and Sunni Bedouin clans in southern Syria, raising fresh concerns of a breakdown in the country's fragile post-war order. Fighting erupted in the Druze-majority Sweida city on Sunday, after an armed robbery of a Druze man led to retaliatory attacks and kidnappings between Druze and Bedouin clans, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights . The interior ministry said at least 30 people were killed and 100 people were injured while the UK-based monitoring group said 99 people were killed. Thousands of people were also displaced in what was the first time sectarian fighting has erupted inside the city of Sweida itself. By Monday, government forces enteredthe city to impose a curfew and quell the fighting, which also marked the first time Syrian troops had entered Sweida since the fall of Assad. Shortly after, Israel launched air attacks on Sweida as part of Tel Aviv's pledge to protect the Druze minority. Israel had previously warned Damascus against sending troops closer to its border in southern Syria, which it wants to be a demilitarised zone. The Druze spiritual leadership initially opposed Syrian troop deployment in Sweida then later called on Druze fighters to disarm and let government forces enter. But a Druze political leader again reversed the position, saying he had been forced to welcome government troops under duress. The government later replaced its soldiers with a police force. Later on Tuesday, Syria's defence minister announced a ceasefire. Tensions between forces loyal to the government and Druze fighters have continued since Sunni rebels led a lightning assault to topple President Bashar Assad in early December. The violence highlights President Ahmed al-Sharaa's struggle to maintain control, as many minorities continue to distrust his Islamist-led government. Distrust was heightened after Syrian troops and allied militia were accused of massacring hundreds of Alawis in March. While the transitional government minorities promised to include religious minorities, only one Druze minister was appointed in the new cabinet - Minister of Agriculture Amjad Badr. Religious freedom was officially protected under Assad and now the Druze are split between favouring dialogue with the new government and confrontation. More than half of the million-strong Druze religious minority, originating from a 10th-century offshoot of Shiite Islam, live in Syria in Sweida and the southern suburbs of Damascus. Most others live in Lebanon and Israel, and the annexed Golan Heights.
