A UN investigation into the violence in Syria’s Suwayda Governorate in July of last year concluded that more than 1,700 people were killed and nearly 200,000 displaced in the course of the fighting and subsequent massacres, and that some of the incidents may amount to war crimes.
The July incident began with clashes between Bedouin and Druze factions in the area, and escalated when the Syrian military was deployed and quickly sided with the Bedouins, participating in violence and ultimately summary executions of Druze civilians in the area.
The report concluded that no only were executions carried out, but that homes and businesses in Druze villages were looted and burned in the course of the protracted violence in the area.
Suwayda clashes 7/13/25 | Image from SOHR
UN commissioner Fionnuala Ni Aolain said that both the Syrian government forces and certain Druze armed groups committed serious violations that may either amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity, calling on the Syrian government to investigate the matter. Commission chair Paulo Pinheiro said they need to not only investigate to hold people to account, but to resolve the root causes of such violence.
The Syrian government already promised investigations and to hold security forces accountable for any violations, and the Foreign Ministry responded to the UN report by reiterating that position, though after nine months few if any security forces were ever held to account, and indeed the violence has continued intermittently, albeit at a lower level, since then.
The violence against Syria’s Druze minority was only one of multiple high-profile massacres against the country’s minorities in which government forces participated. Promises of accountability have so far amounted to little.
