Damascus, July 16 (AP) — Intense clashes have erupted in the southern Syrian city of Sweida after a ceasefire between government forces and Druze armed groups broke down. The situation deteriorated further with Israel threatening increased involvement, citing support for the Druze religious minority.
The Israeli military executed strikes near the Syrian Ministry of Defence's entrance in Damascus and followed up with a more substantial hit later. Additionally, Israel launched airstrikes on Syrian government convoys in the south, bolstering its border presence.
Syria's Defence Ministry accused militias in Sweida, a Druze-majority area, of breaking a ceasefire agreement reached on Tuesday. This alleged violation prompted Syrian soldiers to retaliate. The ministry stated their actions were meant to safeguard residents, minimize harm, and facilitate the safe return of displaced locals. Meanwhile, reports of civilian attacks have persisted, as Druze families with loved ones in conflict zones face communication blackouts and seek information about their relatives' safety.
A December rebel offensive, driven by Islamist insurgent groups, had ousted Syria's long-standing autocratic leader, Bashar Assad, marking the end of a nearly 14-year civil war. The country's new Sunni Muslim leaders have since struggled to consolidate control, facing skepticism from religious and ethnic minorities. These tensions were exacerbated when clashes between government forces and pro-Assad groups in March led to sectarian revenge acts, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of Alawite civilians, the sect to which Assad belongs.
In Jaramana, near Damascus, Evelyn Azzam, 20, expressed fears regarding the fate of her husband Robert Kiwan. The newlyweds live in the Damascus suburb, with Kiwan commuting daily to Sweida for work. He was trapped when hostilities began.
Azzam recounted a distressing phone call with Kiwan during which security personnel inquired about their Druze affiliation. After an argument ensued, she heard gunshots. "They shot my husband in the hip," she tearfully stated. "The ambulance took him to the hospital. We've had no updates since then."
A Druze expat from Sweida residing in the UAE revealed her family remains in hiding in a basement amid the conflict's chaos. Speaking anonymously for safety reasons, she described their fear as they endured shelling and gunfire outside.
Another Druze woman from the UAE with relatives in Sweida recounted how a cousin informed her of a house fire that engulfed their family home. The incident triggered memories of the 2018 Islamic State attack on Sweida, resulting in her uncle's death while defending against the assault.
She stated, "It's the same situation now." The Druze fighters, in her view, are merely "defending their province and families."
The Druze religious sect originated in the 10th century as an Ismailism offshoot, a Shiite Islam branch. Of the approximate 1 million Druze globally, over half reside in Syria. Their communities also thrive in Lebanon and Israel, including the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, seized from Syria during the 1967 Mideast War.
The recent violence in Syria began with Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze armed faction skirmishes, escalating into increased government intervention and clashes with Druze forces.
Contentious media footage surfaced showing government-linked fighters shaving the mustaches of respected Druze leaders, trampling on Druze flags, and desecrating religious symbols. Concurrently, videos depicted Druze combatants abusing captured soldiers and posing with their bodies. AP journalists documented residual destruction and looting.
While no official casualty count has been released since Monday, when the Interior Ministry reported 30 deaths, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claims the fatalities exceed 250, including children, women, and government operatives. The observatory reported 21 "field executions."
Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa condemned the brutality, declaring, "These unlawful acts are unacceptable and counter the tenets upon which the Syrian state is founded. Perpetrators, be they individuals or unregulated groups, will face legal consequence."
The Druze community in the Golan Heights demonstrated at the border, protesting the treatment of their Syrian counterparts.
In Israel, the Druze community, often serving in the military, is valued as a loyal minority. Within Syria, the Druze remain divided on collaborating with the new leadership, with factions advocating either integration or autonomy.
On Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened intensified military action if Syrian regime forces did not withdraw, stating that responses could escalate if messages remain unheeded. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized Israel's commitment to maintaining a demilitarized Syrian border region and protecting local Druze communities.
Israel has maintained a firm stance against Syria's new leadership to prevent Islamist militant presence near its territory. Israeli forces have captured a UN-buffer zone within Syrian borders near the Golan Heights and conducted extensive airstrikes on Syrian military installations. (AP) RD RD
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