At least 30 people have been killed and scores injured in southern Syria following intense sectarian clashes between Bedouin Sunni tribes and Druze fighters in the city of Sweida. The Syrian interior ministry confirmed the death toll on Monday, while the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the figure higher at 37. Over 100 people were reportedly wounded in the violence.
The unrest marks a troubling escalation of intercommunal conflict in the country since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December. Assad’s ousting by Sunni Islamist rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) ended over five decades of Alawite rule and triggered a fragile political transition under a new Islamic-led government.
Sweida, a predominantly Druze region, has become a flashpoint as minority groups fear marginalization and retribution. The Druze, a religious minority with roots in Shia Islam, had historically maintained a cautious loyalty to Assad’s government, seeking protection during Syria’s 13-year civil war. Now, as the new regime attempts to consolidate control, tensions have flared amid perceived neglect and insecurity.
The governor of Sweida, Mustapha al-Bakur, urged residents to “exercise self-restraint and respond to national calls for reform,” while spiritual leaders across communities issued appeals for calm. Government forces were dispatched to the area in an effort to de-escalate the situation.
This latest outbreak of violence follows similar clashes in April and May between new security forces and Druze fighters that resulted in dozens of deaths. Meanwhile, other minority groups have also suffered under the new administration. Hundreds of Alawites Assad’s own sect have been killed in recent months, and attacks have been reported on Christian worshippers in Damascus.
The international community is closely monitoring developments. In a surprising move, the United States recently removed HTS from its list of foreign terrorist organizations. Simultaneously, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy became the first British minister to visit Syria since the civil uprising began 14 years ago.
With old grievances resurfacing and new power dynamics still fragile, Syria’s path to stability remains uncertain. As sectarian violence intensifies, the prospects for lasting peace hinge on the government’s ability to protect minorities and foster national reconciliation.
