Adding to the seemingly endless array of different ethnic, sectarian and other general clashes in Syria, fighting erupted in the southern city of Suwayda today, leaving at least 21 people dead, including a child, and over 40 others wounded, as many as 50 by some accounts.
Details are still emerging over what exactly started the latest conflict, which took place in the eastern Maqus neighborhood of the predominantly Druze city, and saw both sides shelling the area.
Though Suwayda is predominantly Druze, and indeed so is the Suwayda Governorate, the Maqus neighborhood is largely Bedouin, and the fighting was between Druze forces from local factions and Bedouin tribes.
Suwayda clashes 7/13/25 | Image from SOHR
The narrative of who attacked who and why is still not certain either, and the Syrian government has not released a statement on the matter. Social media comments are presenting the Druze as the “defenders” in this conflict, and say it ended with a Druze flag flying over the Bedouin neighborhood.
Both sides have been claiming robberies and kidnappings by the other side, and it continued to escalate until it ended with this clash. The Bedouins reportedly called for reinforcements from other tribes in the area, though it’s not clear if they arrived or not.
The Syrian government basically has no presence in Suwayda Governorate anymore, but they’ve appointed a Druze figure to govern the area. The Suwayda-Damascus highway has reportedly been closed by security forces today following the clashes. A checkpoint has also been set up by some faction in Maqus neighborhood, and reportedly some locals have been detained for links to the other faction, but it is as yet unclear who is actually running that checkpoint.
