PHOTO: Death Toll Soars to 248 in Syria as Ceasefire Collapses

At least 248 people have died in southern Syria’s Sweida province following days of fierce clashes between local Druze fighters and Sunni Bedouin tribes.

According to Reuters, the violence which began on Sunday, July 13, has continued despite a ceasefire announcement by the Syrian defence ministry on Tuesday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the alarming death toll.

Among the dead are 92 Druze fighters, 28 civilians, 138 Syrian security personnel, and 18 Bedouin fighters.

Shocking reports also claim that government forces carried out at least 21 summary executions.

The unrest erupted after the kidnapping of a Druze vegetable merchant. In retaliation, members of the Druze community reportedly kidnapped several Bedouin individuals, which led to a full-scale armed conflict.

By Monday, the Syrian government announced its intervention and began deploying troops to Sweida city.

However, residents and local witnesses allege that the military sided with the Bedouin tribes instead of acting as a neutral force.

Eyewitnesses, including journalists and local sources like Suwayda 24, describe horrifying scenes: dozens of bodies, burned homes, looted shops, and smoke rising across the city.

A correspondent from AFP confirmed seeing around 30 bodies, including government soldiers and armed civilians.

Since early Wednesday, Sweida has witnessed heavy shelling with mortar rounds and artillery fire, according to local sources.

The Syrian defence ministry has blamed the violence on “outlaw groups” and claimed it is “responding to the sources of fire.”

This marks the most intense outbreak of violence in southern Syria since April and May, when similar clashes claimed over 100 lives near Damascus and Sweida.

Druze Marginalization and Regional Tensions

The conflict has deeper political roots. After the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad in December, Syria’s new Islamist authorities entered discussions with Druze leaders over political integration. So far, those talks have failed to yield results, deepening tensions.

Meanwhile, Israel has issued a stern warning to Damascus. On Wednesday, Israeli authorities reiterated their promise to protect Syria’s Druze minority and threatened stronger action against the Syrian regime if government forces remain in the south.

As of now, the humanitarian situation in Sweida remains dire.

Many civilians have fled their homes, while local hospitals are overwhelmed. International groups are calling for an immediate ceasefire and access for aid workers.

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