Kidnappings and clashes shake Suwayda amid mounting tensions in southern Syria

SUWAYDA, Syria — Tensions flared dramatically over the weekend in southern Syria’s Suwayda province, shattering the fragile calm that had characterized the region for months. A fresh wave of violence erupted following a string of reciprocal kidnappings between local armed factions and tribal groups, escalating into armed clashes that left dozens dead and scores more wounded.

The violence was sparked by a roadside robbery near the Damascus–Suwayda highway, in which members of a local tribal group allegedly assaulted and robbed a prominent merchant from Suwayda, before abandoning him in a remote area in critical condition. In retaliation, armed members from the merchant’s community detained individuals from the tribal group, igniting a cycle of reprisal abductions.

The situation deteriorated further when tribal militias erected a temporary checkpoint in Suwayda’s eastern Al-Maqous neighborhood, detaining several affiliates of local armed factions. Simultaneously, the main road connecting Daramsuq (Damascus) and Suwayda was blocked, deepening the security crisis and isolating the city from neighboring regions.

According to local reports, at least 37 people were killed, including two children — 27 from local armed factions and 10 from Bedouin tribes — and nearly 50 others injured, many of them critically.

As violence engulfed the countryside, Syria’s Ministry of Education postponed national high school exams across the province. Residents of the village of Al-Tayra fled en masse toward Al-Mazraa and Suwayda city, as clashes spread and several homes were reportedly set ablaze. While many families sought refuge, local self-defense units remained stationed in the area in an effort to repel further incursions.

In an official statement, Interior Minister Anas Khattab described the situation in Suwayda as a byproduct of weakened state institutions and the absence of consistent law enforcement. “There can be no solution to the crisis in Suwayda without restoring state authority and revitalizing the role of institutions tasked with safeguarding public security and civil peace,” he said.

Syria’s Ministry of Defense echoed the minister’s remarks, announcing that it had begun deploying specialized military units in coordination with the Interior Ministry. The aim, officials said, is to establish safe corridors for civilians, de-escalate clashes, and bring an end to the hostilities.

In its statement, the ministry called on all warring factions to exercise restraint and cooperate with government forces. It also expressed readiness to support any initiative aimed at restoring communal harmony, promoting national unity, and ensuring a secure future for the region.

The events in Suwayda underscore the broader fragility of post-conflict Syria, where unresolved grievances, fragmented authority, and a lack of institutional presence continue to threaten the country’s stability. With no clear resolution in sight, the latest violence raises urgent questions about the state’s ability — and willingness — to mediate local disputes before they spiral into broader conflict.