Syrian Forces Evacuate Bedouins as Tensions Simmer in Region

The Syrian government has initiated the evacuation of hundreds of Bedouin families trapped in the southern city of Suwayda, where a delicate ceasefire holds after a week of intense clashes between Druze and Bedouin fighters.

The conflict, which erupted on July 13, has claimed nearly 260 lives and caused the displacement of over 128,000 people, according to the United Nations.

The first wave of evacuations began on Monday, with buses and trucks, escorted by Syrian Arab Red Crescent ambulances, transporting displaced Bedouin families to the nearby city of Daraa.

The Syrian government aims to evacuate up to 1,500 individuals from the province.

By midday on Monday, at least 500 people had been relocated, with more expected to leave in the coming hours.

The violence in Suwayda, between the Druze minority and Bedouin clans, has escalated tensions in Syria’s already fragile post-war recovery.

While many Bedouin families are leaving voluntarily, citing security threats, others are being assisted by the government.

The Syrian Interior Minister, Ahmad al-Dalati, confirmed that the evacuation would also allow other displaced civilians to return home as efforts to negotiate a complete ceasefire continue.

Al-Dalati emphasized the importance of securing Suwayda, ensuring safety for all its residents, and paving the way for stability and reconciliation in the province.

The conflict began after tensions between Druze groups and Bedouin clans boiled over in mid-July.

It quickly spiraled into deadly confrontations, which included the kidnapping of Druze women by Bedouin fighters, and triggered fears of a wider ethnic or sectarian escalation.

With both sides accusing each other of violations, the situation became increasingly dire, and calls for external intervention grew louder.

Amid the violence, Israel launched airstrikes on Syria’s Ministry of Defence buildings in central Damascus, claiming the strikes were in defense of the Druze, whom Israel views as allies.

The Israeli military also targeted government forces in Suwayda province.

While Israel’s intervention raised tensions, it reportedly aimed at protecting the Druze, whom it refers to as its “brothers” due to historical ties.

Despite the airstrikes, which have contributed to an atmosphere of uncertainty, the Syrian government and local leaders have been working toward a fragile ceasefire.

Under the terms of the truce, which was brokered on Saturday, the Bedouin fighters are required to release the Druze women they had captured and exit the province.

However, efforts for a complete prisoner swap fell apart late on Sunday, and clashes between the two factions continued in some areas.

In the midst of the standoff, international aid has started to flow into the region.

A Syrian Arab Red Crescent convoy entered Suwayda on Sunday, delivering much-needed humanitarian assistance, including food, water, and medical supplies.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that fuel was also included in the convoy to help ease the growing shortages in the area.

Meanwhile, the Druze community in Syria has expressed its frustration with the escalating violence.

Many Druze, particularly those loyal to spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, have been at the forefront of the fighting, while other factions of the Druze community have called for peace.

al-Sharaa

Interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has sought to appease the Druze by condemning the targeted attacks and promising to hold perpetrators accountable.

Al-Sharaa’s administration, which has struggled to stabilize the country after the downfall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December, has sought to maintain control over the situation by appealing to Druze leaders and reducing tensions between the warring groups.

The Druze have long held a complicated relationship with Syria’s ruling authorities.

While many celebrated the fall of the Assad regime, others, like al-Hijri, have had ties to the former president’s government.

Al-Hijri’s more aggressive stance toward the interim government has added to the complexity of the situation, as his influence in the region continues to affect local power dynamics.

The situation in Suwayda remains fluid, with a continuing ceasefire serving as a temporary respite in the larger context of Syria’s ongoing instability.

The government’s evacuation effort aims to prevent further violence and restore some level of normalcy to the region, but the underlying tensions between Druze and Bedouin groups remain unresolved.

As the conflict drags on, the possibility of further ethnic and sectarian clashes looms large, complicating Syria’s already complex post-war transition.

The evacuation of Bedouin families from Suwayda represents a small but significant step toward de-escalation in the province.

However, the challenge remains in securing lasting peace and stability, both within Suwayda and across the broader region.

International efforts to mediate peace, combined with local ceasefire negotiations, will be crucial in determining whether the fragile truce can hold in the long term.