Calm Returns to Syria's Sweida After Deadly Clashes; Truce Holds

 

Calm was reported in Sweida, Syria, on Sunday following a week of deadly clashes between Druze residents and Bedouin fighters. Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab said internal security forces restored order and enforced a ceasefire that allowed negotiations for a prisoner exchange to begin. The violence tested interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s leadership and drew international attention, especially after Israel launched airstrikes against Syrian government forces, citing its commitment to protect the Druze. The truce was confirmed by U.S. envoy Tom Barrack, who said both sides had agreed to pause hostilities and work toward a full detainee exchange. However, Sweida residents described an uneasy peace. They reported a severe lack of water and electricity, with hospitals no longer functioning and corpses still in the streets. Aid efforts have been hampered government convoys were blocked by local factions, while Red Crescent aid was allowed in. Israel also reportedly sent medical aid with U.S. coordination. The fighting initially erupted between Bedouin and Druze factions, but Syrian troops sent to control the violence were accused of committing abuses, including killing civilians in their homes. President Sharaa promised justice and accountability for crimes committed against the Druze and blamed “outlaw groups” for the unrest. The events added pressure on Sharaa, who has received U.S. backing but faces the challenge of stabilizing a war-torn nation fractured by 14 years of conflict and deep sectarian divides.

As the situation in Sweida stabilizes, attention is shifting to broader implications. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported over 940 deaths since the violence began on July 13, while the Syrian Network for Human Rights has confirmed at least 321. Victims include civilians, children, Bedouin fighters, and Syrian security forces. Reports suggest that field executions were carried out by both sides during the conflict. Israel's military action in response to the crisis marks a new chapter in its involvement in the region. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strikes were meant to prevent militarization along its border and protect Druze communities. Israel later agreed to allow limited Syrian troop access to Sweida for two days. The U.S. disapproved of the Israeli airstrikes but remained engaged diplomatically. These developments show increased international attention and intervention in a conflict that has far-reaching regional consequences. On Sunday, President Sharaa also received an inquiry report into an earlier March incident in Syria’s coastal region, where 1,500 Alawites were allegedly killed by government forces after attacks on security installations. The presidency pledged to ensure justice and prevent similar violations. Calls were made for the inquiry committee to publicly release its findings. Despite the fragile calm, the humanitarian crisis in Sweida remains severe. Residents face critical shortages of essential supplies and medical services. Entire neighborhoods have been destroyed, and the main hospital is non-operational. The smell of corpses and destruction adds to the trauma experienced by the community. Local resistance to government aid convoys shows lingering mistrust and fear of further violence. This recent unrest is yet another sign of the deep sectarian and political challenges Syria faces as it struggles to emerge from more than a decade of civil war.

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