Syrian Troops Withdraw from Sweida After Sectarian Clashes Kill Nearly 600
Sweida, Syria – July 18, 2025:
Syrian government forces have withdrawn from the southern province of Sweida, a historic Druze heartland, following days of deadly sectarian violence that claimed the lives of at least 594 people, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The withdrawal, ordered by Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, follows mounting tensions between Druze fighters, Sunni Bedouin tribes, and the Syrian army. The violence, which erupted on Sunday, has left Sweida city devastated — with burned homes, looted shops, and bodies strewn in the streets, AFP correspondents reported.
“What I saw of the city looked as if it had just emerged from a flood or a natural disaster,” said Hanadi Obeid, a 39-year-old doctor.
Sharaa announced in a televised address that local community leaders would now oversee security, claiming it was in the “supreme national interest.” He also acknowledged that the deployment of government troops earlier in the week exacerbated the violence and triggered Israeli airstrikes, which targeted Syrian army positions in Sweida and near Damascus, killing at least three people.
The UN humanitarian agency OCHA reported that nearly 2,000 families have been displaced across the province amid the fighting.
Israeli Strikes and Regional Reactions
Israel launched multiple airstrikes against Syrian government positions during the troop deployment, with Israeli officials claiming the attacks aimed to prevent the military from nearing the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Although the Syrian presidency accused Druze fighters of violating a ceasefire, it also warned of continued Israeli “interference”, calling it a threat to Syria’s sovereignty and regional stability.
While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the ceasefire as a result of “powerful action,” analysts suggest Israel is using the Druze issue as a pretext to secure its military objectives near the Golan region.
Dozens of Israeli Druze gathered along the border hoping to reunite with family members across the frontier. “It was like a dream,” said Qamar Abu Saleh, a local educator, after witnessing brief crossings between both sides.
U.S. and Arab Mediation
In a rare diplomatic consensus, the United States, along with Turkey and Arab states, mediated a deal to de-escalate the crisis. Washington clarified that it did not support the Israeli airstrikes, despite being a key ally of Tel Aviv.
The foreign ministers of 11 regional nations, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, and Turkey, issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s attacks as “blatant violations of international law” and reiterated their support for the Syrian government.
Sharaa, leading Syria’s Islamist-led interim government since the ouster of Bashar al-Assad, promised protection for the Druze minority, vowing to hold accountable anyone responsible for attacking civilians.
“We are keen on holding accountable those who transgressed and abused our Druze people,” Sharaa said, acknowledging strained relations with minorities in the post-Assad era.
The government has faced criticism for its role in previous massacres, including the deaths of over 1,700 Alawites earlier this year on Syria’s Mediterranean coast.
Sectarian Fault Lines Resurface
The latest unrest highlights the fragile sectarian balance in post-civil war Syria. Earlier this year, over 100 people were killed in battles between Druze fighters and Syrian forces near Damascus and Sweida. Witnesses this week accused the army of collaborating with Bedouin tribes in attacks against Druze civilians during its recent deployment.
While the government frames the withdrawal as part of a ceasefire agreement, tensions remain high, and the potential for renewed violence looms in a country still struggling to rebuild after more than a decade of war.
