Fierce clashes reignited in the southern Syrian city of Sweida on Wednesday after a ceasefire between government forces and Druze armed factions collapsed, prompting fresh violence and growing fears of a regional escalation.
The breakdown in talks comes amid a bold military stance from Israel, which has vowed to protect the Druze minority and has already intensified airstrikes inside Syria.
The Syrian Defense Ministry accused Druze militias of breaching Tuesday’s ceasefire, stating that government troops had resumed operations “in response to sources of fire within the city.” The ministry claimed forces were following rules of engagement to minimize civilian harm and help displaced residents return safely.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military confirmed it had carried out a strike near the entrance of Syria’s Ministry of Defense in Damascus. It also launched multiple attacks on government convoys in the south, citing the protection of Druze communities as the motive.
“We will continue to attack regime forces until they withdraw,” said Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu added that Israel has “an obligation to safeguard the Druze locals” and maintain a demilitarized buffer zone along its border with Syria.
The current violence was triggered by tit-for-tat kidnappings and attacks between local Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze factions. Government forces, initially deployed to restore order, soon clashed with the Druze themselves.
Human rights monitors have reported extrajudicial killings and widespread looting by Syrian security forces. The U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates over 250 people have been killed since Monday, including four children, five women, and 138 government soldiers and security personnel.
Tensions remain high in post-Assad Syria, where the new Sunni-led government has struggled to win the trust of minority groups, including the Druze and Alawites. Israel, wary of instability near its Golan Heights border, has taken a harder line against Syria’s new leadership since Assad’s fall.
With violence spiraling and external powers stepping in, the conflict in Sweida is quickly becoming a flashpoint with wider regional consequences.
