Southern Syria clashes (July 2025–present)

The violence was reportedly triggered by a robbery incident that happened on 11 July 2025 on the Damascus–Suwayda highway,{{cite news |title=عشرات القتلى والجرحى في اشتباكات السويداء وجهود حثيثة لاحتواء التوتر |trans-title=Dozens killed and injured in Suwayda clashes amid intensive efforts to contain the tension |url=https://www.independentarabia.com/node/627813/الأخبار/عشرات-القتلى-والجرحى-في-اشتباكات-السويداء-وجهود-حثيثة-لاحتواء-التوتر |website=Independent Arabia |lang=ar |date=14 July 2025 |access-date=14 July 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250714012414/https://www.independentarabia.com/node/627813/الأخبار/عشرات-القتلى-والجرحى-في-اشتباكات-السويداء-وجهود-حثيثة-لاحتواء-التوتر |archive-date=14 July 2025 |url-status=live}} in which a Druze vegetable merchant was assaulted by members of Bedouin tribes after they set up an improvised roadblock. The assailants stole his vehicle and belongings before forcibly taking him to a remote and rugged area. There, the group subjected him to sectarian insults and repeated death threats throughout his detention. He was later released blindfolded and in critical condition in a distant town.{{cite news |title=احتجازات متبادلة تشعل فتيل التوتر في السويداء عقب حادثة اعتداء مسلح طالت شاباً على الطريق الواصل مع دمشق |trans-title=Mutual detentions ignite tensions in Suwayda following armed assault on young man along Damascus road |url=https://www.syriahr.com/احتجازات-متبادلة-تشعل-فتيل-التوتر-في-ا/769601/ |website=Syrian Observatory for Human Rights |lang=ar |date=13 July 2025 |access-date=14 July 2025}}{{cite news |last=Ben Ari |first=Lior |title=At least 18 killed in clashes between Druze, Bedouins in southern Syria |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hya0011511llx |website=Ynet |lang=en |date=13 July 2025 |access-date=14 July 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.md/8a0tX |archive-date=14 July 2025 |url-status=live}} In response, local Druze armed groups detained several individuals from Bedouin tribes the next day in an effort to recover the stolen property. This initiated a cycle of retaliatory kidnappings between the two sides, which quickly escalated into open armed clashes.{{cite news |title=اشتباكات السويداء تتفاقم... عشرات القتلى والجرحى وسط نزوح جماعي |trans-title=Suwayda clashes escalate... dozens killed and wounded amid mass displacement |url=https://www.annahar.com/arab-world/arabian-levant/230792/سوريا-6-قتلى-باشتباكات-في-مدينة-السويدا |website=An-Nahar |lang=ar |date=13 July 2025 |access-date=13 July 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.md/igI1W |archive-date=13 July 2025 |url-status=live}}

Following the detention of several Bedouin individuals by the Druze armed groups, Bedouin fighters responded by establishing a checkpoint in the al-Maqwas neighborhood in eastern Suwayda city on 13 July, where they captured several members of the local Druze armed groups. Armed clashes soon erupted between the two sides in and around the area.{{cite news |title=توتر متصاعد في السويداء.. اشتباكات في حي المقوس وقطع طريق دمشق – السويداء إثر احتجازات متبادلة بين مسلحين محليين وعشائر في المنطقة |trans-title=Rising tension in Suwayda: Clashes in al-Maqwas and Damascus–Suwayda road cut off after mutual detentions between local gunmen and tribes |url=https://www.syriahr.com/توتر-متصاعد-في-السويداء-اشتباكات-في-حي/769644/ |website=Syrian Observatory for Human Rights |lang=ar |date=13 July 2025 |access-date=14 July 2025}}

Violence soon spread beyond al-Maqwas to rural areas including al-Tireh, al-Mazraa, and al-Soura al-Kabira. Reports confirmed the use of mortars and other heavy weapons. The highway between Damascus and Suwayda was cut off by armed groups.{{cite news |title=ارتفاع حصيلة اشتباكات السويداء إلى 11 قتيلاً و54 مصاباً |trans-title=Suwayda clashes death toll rises to 11 dead and 54 injured |url=https://www.alaraby.co.uk/politics/ارتفاع-حصيلة-اشتباكات-السويداء-إلى-11-قتيلاً-و54-مصاباً?amp |website=The New Arab |lang=ar |date=13 July 2025 |access-date=13 July 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.md/nqu9d |archive-date=13 July 2025 |url-status=live}} While Syrian government checkpoints came under attack by Bedouin fighters, leading to reported clashes between the assailants and government security forces in various parts of the region.{{cite news |title=التوتر الأمني يتصاعد في السويداء.. مجموعات من أبناء العشائر تهاجم حواجز للشرطة.. وارتفاع عدد قتلى حي المقوس إلى 8 |trans-title=Security tensions escalate in Suwayda: Tribal groups attack police checkpoints as al-Maqwas death toll rises to 8 |url=https://www.syriahr.com/0125التوتر-الأمـ-ـنـ-ـي-يتصاعد-في-السويدا/769678/ |website=Syrian Observatory for Human Rights |lang=ar |date=13 July 2025 |access-date=14 July 2025}}{{cite news |title=لمؤازرة أبناء العشائر.. مجموعات حوران تتجه إلى المناطق الساخنة في ريف السويداء |trans-title=In support of tribal fighters, Horan groups head toward flashpoints in Suwayda countryside |url=https://www.syriahr.com/لمؤازرة-أبناء-العشائر-مجموعات-حوران-ت/769694/ |website=Syrian Observatory for Human Rights |lang=ar |date=13 July 2025 |access-date=14 July 2025}}

Reinforcements from Daraa Governorate arrived to the area to assist the Bedouin fighters.{{cite news |title=السويداء تشتعل: اشتباكات دامية تودي بحياة 13 شخصاً على الأقل |trans-title=Suwayda ignites: Bloody clashes leave at least 13 dead |url=https://arabic.euronews.com/2025/07/13/suwayda-clashes-druze-bedouin-sectarian-tension-rocket-attacks-fighting |website=Euronews |lang=ar |date=13 July 2025 |access-date=13 July 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.md/OzsUl |archive-date=13 July 2025 |url-status=live}}

Bedouin tribal fighters were reported to have advanced toward the outskirts of al-Tireh village.{{cite news |title=اتساع رقعة الاشتباكات في السويداء وريفها.. وارتفاع عدد القتلى إلى 13 شخصا وأكثر من 40 جريحا |trans-title=Clashes expand in Suwayda and its countryside; death toll rises to 13 with over 40 injured |url=https://www.syriahr.com/اتساع-رقعة-الاشتباكات-في-السويداء-وري/769696/ |website=Syrian Observatory for Human Rights |lang=ar |date=13 July 2025 |access-date=14 July 2025}} Most residents of the village were displaced toward al-Mazraa and Suwayda amidst the violent clashes, during which several homes were set on fire.{{cite news |title=نزوح جماعي واشتباكات واستهداف بلدات في تصعيد أمني خطير في السويداء.. وارتفاع عدد القتلى إلى 21 شخصا |trans-title=Mass displacement, clashes, and town attacks amid serious security escalation in Suwayda; death toll rises to 21 |url=https://www.syriahr.com/نزوح-جماعي-واشتباكات-واسـ-ـتـ-ـهداف-بل/769731/ |website=Syrian Observatory for Human Rights |lang=ar |date=13 July 2025 |access-date=14 July 2025}}

Meanwhile, Syrian government forces from the Ministry of Interior were dispatched to contain the fighting.{{cite news |title=18 قتيلا وعشرات الجرحى باشتباكات بين بدو ودروز في السويداء |trans-title=18 killed and dozens injured in clashes between Bedouins and Druze in Suwayda |url=https://www.independentarabia.com/node/627808/الأخبار/الشرق-الأوسط/18-قتيلا-وعشرات-الجرحى-باشتباكات-بين-بدو-ودروز-في-السويداء |website=Independent Arabia |lang=ar |date=13 July 2025 |access-date=14 July 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250714012916/https://www.independentarabia.com/node/627808/الأخبار/الشرق-الأوسط/18-قتيلا-وعشرات-الجرحى-باشتباكات-بين-بدو-ودروز-في-السويداء |archive-date=14 July 2025 |url-status=live}}

On the evening of 13 July, the Ministry of Education postponed the high school final exams originally scheduled for 14 July to a later date due to escalating security tensions in the region.{{cite news |title=تأجيل امتحان التربية الدينية في محافظة السويداء فقط إلى موعد يحدد لاحقاً |trans-title=Postponement of religious education exam in Suwayda Governorate only to a later date |url=https://sana.sy/?p=2248239 |website=Syrian Arab News Agency |lang=ar |date=13 July 2025 |access-date=14 July 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250714011551/https://sana.sy/?p=2248239 |archive-date=14 July 2025 |url-status=live}}

Suwayda Governor Moustafa al-Bakkour immediately called for calm, warning against sectarian strife and urging restraint. Al-Bakkour reaffirmed the state's commitment to protecting civilians and praised local efforts for conflict resolution.{{cite news |title=20 قتيلا وعشرات المصابين في اشتباكات بالسويداء السورية |trans-title=20 killed and dozens injured in clashes in Syria's Suwayda |url=https://www.aljazeera.net/amp/news/2025/7/13/7-قتلى-في-اشتباكات-محلية-في-السويداء |website=Al Jazeera |lang=ar |date=13 July 2025 |access-date=13 July 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.md/9WQRD |archive-date=13 July 2025 |url-status=live}} While Brigadier General Nizar al-Hariri, deputy chief of the Internal Security Service , linked the escalation to the fallout from the highway robbery and subsequent abductions. He stated that local and security efforts were underway to de-escalate the violence.

Sheikh Hammoud al-Hinnawi, one of the Druze religious leaders in Syria,{{efn|Spiritual leadership of the Druze in Syria is split into two since the 2010s, one is headed by Hikmat al-Hijri, the other is mutually headed by Hammoud al-Hinnawi and Yousef Jarbou.{{cite news |title=حكمت الهجري أحد زعماء الدروز في السويداء |trans-title=Hikmat al-Hijri: One of the Druze Leaders in As-Suwayda |url=https://www.aljazeera.net/encyclopedia/2025/3/16/حكمت-الهجري-أحد-زعماء-الدروز-في |lang=ar |website=Al Jazeera Arabic |date=16 March 2025 |access-date=13 July 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250407183112/https://www.aljazeera.net/encyclopedia/2025/3/16/%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%85%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%87%D8%AC%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D8%A3%D8%AD%D8%AF-%D8%B2%D8%B9%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B2-%D9%81%D9%8A |archive-date=7 April 2025 |url-status=live}}}} issued a public appeal calling for calm and the avoidance of further violence, he urged all parties to reject sectarian strife, cease retaliatory actions, and uphold the rule of law. Al-Hinnawi addressed his message directly to President Ahmed al-Sharaa, tribal leaders, and all individuals of conscience, urging them to take active steps to prevent further bloodshed. He affirmed that the Druze community seeks justice and stability, stating that "dignity is preserved through reason and wisdom, not through weapons and abductions".{{cite news |title=قتلى في اشتباكات بين العشائر والدروز في السويداء تهدد السلم الأهلي |trans-title=Deaths in clashes between tribes and Druze in Suwayda threaten civil peace |url=https://www.middle-east-online.com/قتلى-في-اشتباكات-بين-العشائر-والدروز-في-السويداء-تهدد-السلم-الأهلي |website=Middle East Online |lang=ar |date=13 July 2025 |access-date=13 July 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.md/YILSa |archive-date=13 July 2025 |url-status=live}}

• Southern Syria clashes (April–May 2025)
• 2025 Southern Syria bombings

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{{Campaignbox Syrian civil war}}

Category:Conflicts in 2025

Category:2025 in Syria

Category:July 2025 in Asia

Category:Military operations of the Syrian civil war in 2025