Syrian Forces Enter Sweida amidst Inter-Communal Clashes ⁢and Regional Tensions

Government troops have ⁢entered the city of ‍Sweida in southern Syria, following days of intense fighting between Druze factions and Bedouin gunmen, with reports of heavy artillery deployment and ‍explosions. The Syrian Defense Ministry announced its‍ forces had entered the city on Tuesday morning, urging residents to⁣ remain indoors⁢ and report any “outlaw groups.”

The intervention comes after clashes erupted on Sunday,reportedly stemming from the abduction of a Druze vendor by Bedouin gunmen,which led to retaliatory kidnappings. The Syrian⁢ Observatory for Human Rights reported a grim toll⁢ of 99 people killed since the⁤ fighting began, including⁤ 60 Druze, 18 Bedouin⁤ fighters, and ⁤14 security personnel. The Defence Ministry confirmed 18 deaths among its ranks.

Druze Leaders Divided Amidst Government Advance

While Druze⁤ religious authorities called for a ceasefire and stated they did not oppose the central government, a prominent spiritual leader, Sheikh Hikmat ⁣al-Hijri, voiced opposition to the security forces’ arrival and appealed for ⁤”international protection.” This division highlights the complex internal dynamics within the Druze community in Sweida.

The pre-war Druze⁣ population in Syria was estimated at around 700,000,⁤ with a meaningful concentration in⁤ Sweida province. Followers of an esoteric religion‍ that branched from ⁣Shiite Islam, the Druze are also found in Lebanon and Israel. Recent history ⁣has seen localized agreements between Druze leaders and Damascus, with Druze fighters providing security in the province ⁢following earlier clashes in April ⁢and May.

Residents have expressed deep fear, with one‍ 51-year-old father describing “extreme terror” due to indiscriminate shelling. A 46-year-old woman voiced concerns about a “repeat of the coastal scenario,”⁣ referencing alleged massacres ⁢of Alawite civilians in northwest ⁢Syria, and stated, ⁣”We are not against the state, ⁤but ⁢we are against surrendering our weapons without a state that treats⁤ everyone the same.”

Syrian Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra,⁣ in a ⁢statement on X, urged his troops to “protect your fellow citizens” from “outlaw gangs” and to⁤ “restore stability to Sweida.”

Israel ⁣Issues Warning Over ‍Druze Safety

The escalating violence ⁣has drawn ⁢regional attention,⁢ with ⁤Israel conducting⁣ airstrikes on syrian tanks on Monday. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz declared the strikes a “clear warning to the Syrian regime-we will not allow harm to‍ be done to the Druze in Syria,” emphasizing Israel’s perceived role as a protector of the⁢ Druze community, which also exists‍ within Israel.

The ongoing conflict in ⁢Sweida underscores the challenges⁣ facing the interim leadership of ahmad al-Sharaa, whose Islamist forces recently ousted‍ President Bashar al-Assad. The long-standing feud between Bedouin and Druze ⁣factions⁢ in Sweida has occasionally ⁤erupted into violence,with reports suggesting Bedouin tribes have sided with security forces in past confrontations with the Druze.