Tensions Escalate in Sweida: Fierce Clashes Between Tribal Forces and Armed Groups as Calls Grow for Government and International Intervention

Local sources told Al Jazeera that tribal forces have positioned themselves around the southern Syrian city of Sweida and are engaged in ongoing clashes with armed groups the government has labeled as “outlaws” still present inside the city.

Sources reported that tribal fighters withdrew early Friday from positions they had advanced into within the city and are now awaiting reinforcements arriving from various regions across Syria.

Sheikh Abdul Moneim Al-Nasif, head of the Syrian Council of Tribes and Clans, issued a call for general mobilization, urging immediate movement toward Sweida to “save civilians from what he described as a massacre” committed against the Bedouins of the region.

A Syrian security source told Al Jazeera that appeals had reached the Ministry of Interior to intervene and stabilize the situation in Sweida. The ministry has reportedly begun preparing security forces to enter the city to restore order and protect residents.

For his part, Sheikh Rakan Al-Khudeir, head of the Southern Tribes Coalition, described the situation in Sweida as “extremely dire,” claiming that more than 2,000 members of the tribes are being held captive by Druze groups. He said the objective of the tribal operation is to “free our people held hostage by the Al-Hijri group,” accusing them of committing atrocities, including beheadings of children and the rape of women.

Al-Khudeir urged all tribal members to refrain from attacking anyone during current operations, emphasizing that the aim is strictly to free hostages.

In the western countryside of Sweida, tribal forces launched a counteroffensive in recent days, seizing control of towns such as Ta’ara, Al-Dour, and Al-Mazraa. This came in response to alleged violations and killings carried out by Druze armed groups against Bedouin residents, following the withdrawal of government defense and security forces from the area.

Reports of Massacres and Civilian Suffering

The Syrian state news agency (SANA) confirmed that “outlaw groups” attacked the Al-Maqous neighborhood in eastern Sweida, home to Bedouin families, committing massacres against women and children and leaving many civilians dead or wounded.

SANA also reported that homes and neighborhoods belonging to Bedouin clans in the city and its western countryside were set ablaze by these local armed factions.

Local sources told Al Jazeera that over 1,000 Bedouin civilians are currently being held in the town of Shahba after government forces withdrew, and that more than 500 Bedouin families have fled the city after their homes were burned by armed groups.

Call for De-escalation and Mediation Forces

Exclusive sources revealed to Al Jazeera that Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri, one of the prominent Druze spiritual leaders, has called on the Syrian government to send conflict resolution forces to Sweida. Al-Hijri urged all parties to embrace a spirit of tolerance and reject attributing acts of sabotage or incitement to any religious group or region.

In a recorded speech, Al-Hijri denied any sectarian motives behind his movement’s actions and called for international intervention to protect the Druze community. However, several Druze sheikhs reiterated their support for the Syrian state and rejected any calls for foreign involvement.

Damascus Condemns Violence, Slams Israeli Interference

The Syrian Presidency accused “outlaw groups” of violating agreements that were brokered through Arab-American mediation, claiming these groups launched brutal attacks despite the government’s decision to pull back its forces to allow for a de-escalation process.

In a statement issued Thursday, the Presidency asserted that the armed factions failed to honor the agreement to refrain from violence and retaliatory actions against civilians, and committed crimes that threaten civil peace.

The Presidency also called on the international community to support Syria’s efforts to restore order and control unregulated arms. It condemned repeated Israeli interference in Syria’s internal affairs, warning that such actions only worsen chaos and regional instability.

The statement affirmed that protecting Syria’s unity and its citizens remains the responsibility of the state, and that the government will continue taking all necessary measures to ensure national security.

Israel Sends Humanitarian Aid to Druze Community

In a notable development, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced on Friday the allocation of emergency humanitarian aid for the Druze community in Sweida. The package, worth 2 million shekels (approximately $596,000), includes food parcels, medical equipment, first aid supplies, and medications, all funded by Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Background: Escalating Tribal-Druze Conflict

The ongoing unrest in Sweida began several days ago as tit-for-tat attacks between armed Druze groups and Arab Bedouin tribes. Government forces initially intervened to break up the clashes but withdrew after confronting hostile Druze factions opposed to the regime. The area was also hit by a wave of intense Israeli airstrikes.