Syria-Israel Truce Announced: New Clashes Rock Druze Area
Sweida Plunged into Crisis as Tribal Clashes Intensify, Humanitarian Situation Deteriorates
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Sweida, Syria - The southern Syrian province of Sweida is grappling with a deepening humanitarian crisis and escalating violence as renewed clashes erupted between Bedouin tribal factions and the druze community. The United Nations has urged “all parties to exercise restraint and prioritise reason” amidst a catastrophic breakdown in the region.
Renewed Fighting Grips Sweida
Fighting reignited on friday at the entrance to Sweida, with approximately 200 tribal fighters engaging armed Druze men from the city. The confrontation involved heavy weaponry,including machine guns and shells,according to an AFP correspondent on the ground. The Syrian Observatory also reported shelling on neighborhoods within Sweida, underscoring the widespread impact of the conflict.
The grim reality of the escalating violence is starkly evident at the Sweida National Hospital. An AFP correspondent described a foul odor emanating from swollen and disfigured bodies piled in refrigerated storage units, with a small number of medical staff struggling to treat the influx of wounded.
Dr. Omar Obeid, a physician at the government hospital, revealed the overwhelming scale of casualties, stating that the facility had received “more than 400 bodies” as Monday morning. “There is no more room in the morgue. The bodies are in the street” in front of the hospital, he added, highlighting the dire conditions and the breakdown of essential services.
The united Nations’ International Association for migration reported that the violence has displaced a staggering 79,339 people as Sunday, with a meaningful surge of 20,019 individuals displaced on Thursday alone.
Tribal Reinforcements Arrive
In a significant development, tribal reinforcements from across Syria have converged on villages surrounding Sweida. These groups have gathered to bolster local Bedouin fighters, whose long-standing animosity with the Druze community erupted into open conflict last weekend.
Anas al-Enad, a tribal chief from the central city of Hama, explained his presence and that of his men in the village of Walgha, northwest of Sweida. “The Bedouin called for our help and we came to support them,” he stated, emphasizing the solidarity among tribal factions.
an AFP correspondent witnessed the aftermath of the fighting in Walgha, observing burning homes and shops. The village is reportedly now under the control of the Bedouin and their allies.
International Response and Concerns
Israel, which shares a significant druze population, announced it was dispatching aid valued at nearly $600,000, including food and medical supplies, to the Druze community in Sweida. While Israel has pledged to defend its Druze brethren, some analysts suggest its actions may also be aimed at weakening the syrian military, its historic adversary, particularly considering recent political shifts in the region.
Humanitarian Situation Declared “Catastrophic”
The severity of the crisis has been underscored by Ryan Marof, Editor-in-chief of the local news outlet Suwayda 24, who described the humanitarian situation as “catastrophic.” He lamented, “We cannot find milk for children,” illustrating the acute shortages of basic necessities.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and demanded “independent, prompt and transparent investigations into all violations.”
The International Committee of the Red cross (ICRC) has issued a stark warning about the overwhelmed health facilities and the impact of power cuts on preserving bodies in overflowing morgues. Stephan sakalian, the head of the ICRC’s delegation in Syria, stated, “The humanitarian situation in Sweida is critical. People are running out of everything.” He further elaborated, “Hospitals are increasingly struggling to treat the wounded and the sick, and families are unable to bury their loved ones in dignity.”
the current wave of violence reportedly began on Sunday following the kidnapping of a Druze vegetable merchant by local Bedouin, which afterward triggered a cycle of retaliatory abductions, according to the Britain-based Observatory.