Sectarian Tensions, Foreign Airstrikes, and Humanitarian Strain: How the ceasefire in Suwayda unraveled

SUWAYDA, Syria — For a brief moment on the evening of 16 July, it seemed as though calm might return to Suwayda. A third ceasefire — brokered by American, Arab, and Turkish mediators — had just taken effect, promising to halt a spiraling wave of violence that had gripped this southern Syrian province since 13 July. Under the agreement, Syrian government troops were to withdraw to their barracks, handing over local security to Druze leadership and civilian police, while a state-appointed fact-finding commission would investigate the killings.  

Over the next 48 hours, the promise of peace began to unravel.  

On 16 July, the Syrian presidency released a rare late-night statement declaring the withdrawal of its troops from Suwayda. Officials framed the move as a gesture of goodwill and de-escalation, emphasizing the state’s “respect for the unique character of the Druze-majority region” and its “commitment to Syrian unity.”   

The announcement followed several days of intense clashes between local Druze defense units and armed Bedouin groups, some allegedly backed by figures linked to Damascus. Witnesses reported gun battles and shelling across towns such as Shahba, Qanawat, and the outskirts of Suwayda city itself.

Spiral of Violence

The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) confirmed by Wednesday evening that at least 169 individuals had been killed and more than 200 others injured since 13 July —one of the deadliest internal escalations in the south since the beginning of the war.  

Also Read: Tensions soar in Suwayda as clashes deepen  

That same night, Israeli fighter jets launched a wide-scale airstrikes on government buildings in Daramsuq (Damascus), targeting the Ministry of Defense and other military facilities near the presidential palace. While Israel claimed the strikes were meant to prevent the return of Syrian troops to Suwayda, the timing sent a stark message: any militarization near Druze areas would not be tolerated.  

Despite the ceasefire, gunfire resumed early Thursday, 17 July. Bedouin fighters — reportedly arriving from the desert outskirts — engaged in new skirmishes with local Druze units in and around the village of Al-Kafr.  

Mutual accusations of ceasefire violations surfaced immediately. Druze factions claimed the Bedouin had never accepted the ceasefire’s terms. Meanwhile, state media highlighted reports of reprisals against displaced Bedouin communities, intensifying communal grievances.  

As clashes spread, Israel conducted another round of airstrikes, this time near Suwayda’s southern corridor, targeting a suspected convoy of irregular militia fighters believed to be moving toward the area from the east.  

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa appeared on national television Thursday evening, calling for calm while condemning “external interventions” and emphasizing the government’s “right to preserve order.” While affirming that no new Syrian troops would re-enter Suwayda, he accused “irregular militias” of disrupting the ceasefire framework.

كلمة السيد الرئيس أحمد الشرع حول تطورات الأوضاع في السويداء واعتداءات الكيان الإسرائيلي#رئاسة_الجمهورية_العربية_السورية pic.twitter.com/rjjehzUndD

— رئاسة الجمهورية العربية السورية (@SyPresidency) July 17, 2025

On 17 July, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) convened an emergency session to address the flare-up. UN Envoy Geir Pedersen warned that southern Syria had once again become a geopolitical tinderbox, with escalating Israeli strikes, growing sectarian tensions, and a fragile ceasefire structure pushed to the brink.  

While Turkey and the United States welcomed the initial ceasefire, both have since acknowledged the danger of its collapse. American officials described the withdrawal of Syrian troops as “an important step,” but urged “immediate humanitarian access” and “restraint by all parties.” Russia, once a close ally of the fallen Syrian regime, remained conspicuously silent.  

By 18 July, while the ceasefire nominally remained in place, localized fighting continued. Druze-led security committees claimed effective control over several towns, yet reported sniper fire and raids on both sides of the frontline. The Syrian government denied accusations of sending reinforcements into the region, though satellite images and civilian reports suggested troop mobilizations had resumed near Shahba.  

Worsening Humanitarian Crisis  

As the political and military drama unfolded, the humanitarian situation deteriorated quickly.  

According to local NGOs and civil councils, over 2,000 families have fled the Suwayda countryside since the violence began. Many are sheltering in overcrowded schools and mosques in Druco (Daraa), Salkhad, and even across the border into Jordan, where humanitarian corridors remain severely restricted.  

Suwayda’s medical infrastructure — already strained by years of war — has been overwhelmed. The main provincial hospital in Suwayda city is operating at double capacity, facing critical shortages in blood supplies, anesthetics, and trauma equipment and assassinating large numbers of the medical staff working at the hospital. Field medics report that ambulances are unable to reach many injured in outlying towns due to security concerns.  

Local bakeries and fuel stations have also shut down in several neighborhoods, either due to damage or lack of supplies. Civil society volunteers say food rations are dwindling rapidly, especially in areas like Arman and Al-Qrayya, where roads have been partially blocked by makeshift checkpoints.  

International aid agencies, including the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, have appealed for urgent safe passage to the region. As of 18 July, they have received no guarantees of access.

Alarmed by the recent upsurge in violence in Suwayda, the @UN #Syria Commission of Inquiry is calling on all parties to cease fire and protect civilians caught in the latest conflict.

More ➡️ https://t.co/BEHN0PZFKz pic.twitter.com/h0uEyli2II

— UN Human Rights Council Investigative Bodies (@uninvhrc) July 15, 2025

Humanitarian monitors warn that unless aid convoys are allowed through, Suwayda could face a public health crisis within days.  

What began as a local security dispute has now drawn in regional powers, inflamed sectarian narratives, and exposed the vulnerabilities of Syria’s fractured post-war governance.  

As Israel’s airstrikes widen and Syrian troops hover near the province, the fate of Suwayda’s people remains uncertain. Druze leaders have reiterated their demand for local autonomy and protection from both the regime and foreign actors. But the path forward is murky at best.  

In the meantime, civilians remain trapped between collapsing agreements, clashing identities, and external agendas.  

Their question is no longer about who governs Suwayda — but whether anyone will protect it.