Druze fighters regained control of Syria’s southern city of Sweida on Saturday after forcing out Bedouin tribal militias, according to the Syrian government and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).
The withdrawal followed a U.S.-brokered ceasefire aimed at preventing further Israeli military intervention.
Sweida was “evacuated of all tribal fighters, and clashes within the city’s neighbourhoods were halted,” Syria’s interior ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba wrote on Telegram.
The SOHR also reported that “tribal fighters withdrew from Sweida city on Saturday evening” following a major offensive launched by Druze forces.
The fighting began after kidnappings between Druze and Bedouin clans escalated into armed clashes across Sweida province. Bedouin tribes from Deir al-Zour and other regions joined the battle, backing local Sunni clans against Druze militias aligned with spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri. Syrian government forces later intervened, claiming their deployment was meant to stop the violence.
Earlier this week, Israel, acting in support of the Druze community, launched airstrikes on Syrian forces in both Sweida and Damascus, aiming to pressure them into withdrawing. The strikes followed accusations that Syrian troops carried out summary executions and other abuses against Druze civilians during their brief deployment in the southern province.
The Associated Press reported that the withdrawal of the Bedouins allowed aid deliveries to begin in the area. On Sunday, the Syrian Red Crescent sent 32 trucks loaded with food, medicine, water, fuel, and other supplies to help Sweida province, which has been struggling with power outages and shortages after the recent fighting.
Syria’s state news agency SANA said the aid convoy reached Sweida but claimed that Sheikh al-Hijri and his armed Druze group blocked a government team that was accompanying a separate convoy.
Al-Hijri did not directly address the accusations but released a statement saying he welcomes any assistance for Sweida and criticized what he described as smear campaigns against him.
Meanwhile, the AFP reported that clashes continue in other parts of Sweida province, even though Druze fighters have retaken control of the city.
According to SOHR, the death toll from the recent violence in Sweida has risen to 1,120 since last weekend.The casualties include 427 Druze fighters and 298 Druze civilians, 194 of whom were “summarily executed by defense and interior ministry personnel,” the observatory said.
The toll also includes 354 government security personnel and 21 Sunni Bedouin, three of whom were “summarily executed by Druze fighters.” Additionally, 15 government troops were killed in Israeli airstrikes, according to SOHR.
