Illustrative image. (Syrian Arab News Agency)
Ten people, including a child, were killed and at least 50 others were wounded on July 13 when clashes broke out between Druze fighters and Sunni tribesmen in the southwestern Syrian governorate of al-Suwayda, in the latest episode of sectarian violence in the war-torn country.
The clashes came following days of tensions that began after a Druze man was reportedly robbed and assaulted by Sunni tribesmen while traveling to Damascus. Druze fighters responded by capturing a number of tribesmen, who retaliated in the same fashion causing the closure of the highway leading to the capital.
The al-Maqwas area in the eastern outskirts of al-Suwayda is reportedly witnessing a fierce battle, with Sunni tribesmen attempting to storm the Druze-majority city.
Local news outlets, including Al-Suwayda 24, warned that the death toll could rise as the battle is intensifying, with both sides bringing in reinforcements.
Along with the battle in al-Suwayda city, sporadic clashes were reported in many parts of the governorate’s countryside. Sunni tribesmen even made an attempt to storm the Druze towns of Al-Surah al-Kubra in the northern countryside and al-Tireh in the western countryside.
Notably, Syria’s Islamist-led Interim Government which led two attacks against Druze fighters near Damascus and in al-Suwayda between April and May, has not intervened this time.
The only official comment came from the commander of the Internal Security Forces in Daraa governorate Shahid Jabr Omran who announced in a statement published by the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency that his forces were deployed along the administrative border with al-Suwayda to stop clashes from spreading to new areas.
Efforts are reportedly being made to broker a ceasefire in al-Suwayda. However, it is unclear how much the government is involved.
After the fall of the regime of former President Bashar al-Assad last December, Druze fighters, who are organized in several armed factions, refused to lay down their arms citing distrust with the country’s new Islamist rulers. They maintained a semi-autonomous administration in al-Suwayda as well as over the towns of Jaramana and Sahnaya near Damascus.
Israel vowed to protect the Druze, citing its historic ties with its own Druze community. Still, Druze fighters were expelled from Sahnaya during the previous wave of violence in May.
The ongoing sectarian clashes in al-Suwayda came amid reports of progress in peace talks between Israel and Syria. The clashes could open the way for government forces into the Druze-majority governorate. Israel will not likely intervene, at least not in a meaningful way.
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