Tensions in southern Syria escalated once again on Friday as heavy fighting broke out between Druze forces and Sunni Bedouin tribes in the restive province of Suwayda. The latest outbreak of violence comes just a day after a temporary ceasefire collapsed, following the withdrawal of Syrian government troops from the area.
According to local sources, the renewed clashes have been intense, with reports of casualties on both sides, although the exact numbers remain unclear.
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Suwayda, a governorate predominantly inhabited by members of the Druze religious minority, has been a hotspot of sporadic unrest in recent years, but recent days have witnessed some of the fiercest tribal confrontations in recent memory.
The Syrian Ministry of Interior has officially denied reports suggesting that government forces are returning to the governorate to manage the unrest. The ministry’s statement contradicts widespread speculation that Damascus might intervene to prevent further escalation. Instead, the region appears increasingly left to its own devices, with local power struggles now dominating the landscape.
The power vacuum created by the Syrian army’s pullback has emboldened rival factions, reigniting long-standing tribal tensions over territory, influence, and historical grievances. Local mediators have reportedly tried to reestablish dialogue between the two sides, but efforts so far have failed to restore calm.
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