The Druze insurgency in Southern Syria is an ongoing insurgency in southern Syria carried out by Druze militias against the Syrian transitional government. Beginning in early 2025 after the fall of the Assad regime, the conflict centers around a dispute over control of Druze-majority areas in Suwayda Governorate and conflict with local Muslim Bedouins. Israel, which has invaded southern Syria parallel to the insurgency, has on occasions directly intervened by launching airstrikes against the Syrian government in support of Druze militants, claiming to be protecting them against persecution.[47][48][49]
In February 2025, local sources in Syria's Quneitra Governorate reported to Al Arabiya alleging that that the IDF had extended "tempting offers" of employment opportunities to residents of Syria.[52]
Tensions continued in late April 2025 after the spread of an offensive audio recording allegedly containing blasphemous content against the Prophet Muhammad, allegedly attributed to a Druze scholar named Marwan Kiwan, who disavowed it.[53]
On 28 February 2025, unidentified armed individuals fired upon a vehicle carrying Druze civilians traveling on a road leading to Damascus International Airport within Jaramana. Two elderly individuals suffered injuries in this attack, and were both hospitalized.[54]
March
On 1 March, clashes broke out between Syrian caretaker government forces and local Druze armed groups responsible for community protection in Jaramana, during the security operation launched by Syrian authorities on the suburb. Members of the Jaramana Shield Brigade were involved in the clashes. During a violent altercation which erupted in Al-Seuof Square between two General Security Service members and local armed residents, one local gunman sustained serious injuries, requiring hospitalization, while authorities took the two security personnel into custody.[50][54]
In the clash at Al-Seuof Square, the wounded local gunman was taken to Al-Mujtahed Hospital for medical treatment. But Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham militants arrived at the hospital where the situation escalated when one of the wounded man's escorts allegedly made blasphemous remarks about Allah. This prompted members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham present at the hospital to physically assault and subsequently detain the companions.[54]
The incidents began in Jaramana at approximately 2:00 a.m. on 28 April 2025, when an unidentified group opened fire on a local militia checkpoint near the "Al-Naseem" intersection at the entrance of Jaramana. Gunfire continued and intensified around 4:00 a.m., leading to the deaths of at least two members of the security forces and six residents of the city. Over ten others were injured in the initial wave of violence.[58]
On 29 April 2025, clashes expanded to the Druze-majority towns of Sahnaya and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya. Armed groups attacked multiple security checkpoints using machine guns and RPGs.[59]Hussam Waruar, the head of the Sahnaya Municipality, was killed along with his son on 1 May by unidentified gunmen.[60] The unidentified groups killed the Druze leader, Wajdi al-Hajj Ali, who was shot in the head and died on 30 April 2025 before reaching the hospital.[61]
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, The Ministry of Defense executed civilians at a poultry farm outside the town of Sahnaya.[62]
The SOHR stated that the Ministry of Defense ambushed Druze coming from Suwayda towards Sahnaya, resulting in 43 deaths.[31] Some of the bodies were burned and others mutilated while the perpetrators (from the Ministry of Interior) reportedly chanted anti-Druze slogans.[63]
May
Clashes erupted between Sweida factions, and armed groups gathered around the village of Kanaker, west of Sweida. This coincided with clashes in the towns of Ira, Rasas and al-Soura al-Kabira.[64] The shrine and museum of Issam Zahreddine, a late Druze military officer and former commander of the Syrian Republican Guard, was vandalized and burned in al-Soura al-Kabira.[65] General security vehicles were ambushed on 7 May by what state media called "outlaw groups" affiliated with the Suwayda Military Council.[66] Druze leader, Hikmat al-Hijri, declared that "There is no consensus between us and the Damascus government".[67]
On 21 May 2025, an armed group, "led by Fadi Nasr, with support from Tariq al-Nagoush", took Mustafa al-Bakour, the governor of Suwayda governorate, hostage at the town hall, demanding and securing the release of Raghib Qarqout, who is a convicted car thief. The Men of Dignity movement was mobilised and secured the governor's exit route from the building, while the Al-Jabal Brigade engaged with the gunmen.[68] Al-Bakour submitted his resignation two days later.[69]
The violence began after a Druze vegetable merchant was assaulted by members of Bedouin tribes after they set up an improvised roadblock.[71][72]
The clashes spread to at-Tira, al-Mazraa, and as-Sawra al-Kabira.[73] A video was released showing a General Security vehicle, including a person making sectarian statements, declaring his participation in the conflict.[74] Israeli aircraft were seen conducting low-altitude flights over the western countryside of Suwayda, deploying flares.[75]
The Syrian Minister of Defense announced that a ceasefire had been reached with Druze spiritual leadership In Suwayda to cooperate with the Interior and Defense Forces and to surrender their weapons,[76] though it was denied by Hikmat al-Hijri who declared that he would "resist this brutal campaign by all available means."[77] The group Men of Dignity announced over 50 of their members killed or injured in Suwayda clashes.[78]
On 16 July 2025, Israel conducted airstrikes on several government buildings in Damascus, including the Syrian military headquarters.[79] There were protests in Jaramana with protestors chanting slogans against president Ahmed al-Sharaa and his government.[80] The Mar Mikhael Church in the town of as-Sawra al-Kabira was robbed, vandalized, and burned.[81] Clashes between Bedouin and Druze fighters were also reported in the western countryside of Rif Dimashq Governorate.[82]
On 19 July, the Syrian government declared a ceasefire which was approved by the Druze leadership and Bedouin tribes.[83] They arrived at the city of Suwayda[84] but are having difficulty implementing the ceasefire.[85]
On 3 August, what the transitional government called "illegal groups" reportedly violated the ceasefire agreement and attacked the Syrian Internal Security Forces.[89] Fighting took place in Tal al-Hadid,[13][90] with the Al-Jabal Brigade involved in the fighting[26]
On 16 August, demonstrations took place in al-Karama Square in Suwayda. Protesters chanted slogans against "federalism" and demanded "full independence" for Syria, with slogans praising Hikmat al-Hijri.[91]
On 26 September, the Syrian Druze militias established a local women's self-defense army as a response to the precarious security situation. More than 500 women are involved.[96]Minors have been forcibly trained to use weapons.[97]
On 1 October, shootings broke out after the infiltration of drones belonging to Ministry of Defense.[99]
On 7 October, the National Guard repelled an infiltration attempt by Syrian government forces in the town of Rima Hazem.[100]
On 8 October, protesters in Shahba demonstrated in support of the residents of Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsoud,[101] during its siege in October 2025 Aleppo clashes, waving flags of Syrian Democratic Forces and banners reading: "The siege of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh is a siege of Suwayda" and "Long live the resistance of the SDF!"[102]
On 10 October, Syrian government forces and the National Guard clashed in northern Suwayda, with 23 mm cannons.[103]
Alleged abuses in Sweida, 2025
During the summer of 2025, the As-Suwayda Governorate in southern Syria witnessed heavy clashes between Druze factions and Bedouin militias. During this period, several videos emerged allegedly documenting summary executions, abuses against civilians, and acts of violence including the burning of houses, looting, and abductions.
A video report by the BBC titled More than 350 people killed in Syria clashes showed widespread violence in affected areas.[104]
Drone footage showed damaged neighborhoods in Sweida following the fighting.[105]
CCTV footage from Sweida hospital circulated online, reportedly showing armed men killing a person inside the hospital while medical staff were forced to the ground.[106]
A video report from The Guardian titled Killed for what, religion? featured testimonies describing summary executions and retaliatory violence during the sectarian escalation.[107]
Human Rights Watch reported that the conflict was accompanied by "serious abuses," including summary executions, arson attacks on homes, looting of property, and the forced displacement of civilians.[108]
↑ "Israel launches bombing raids in Syria and Lebanon". The Guardian. 15 July 2025. Archived from the original on 16 July 2025. Retrieved 16 July 2025. In Syria, the transitional government has said it had sent the forces south to end days of clashes between Druze and Bedouin groups, who remained armed following the end of the civil war.
↑ "Israel strikes in Damascus as clashes between government forces and Druze groups in Syria rage on". Associated Press. 16 July 2025. Archived from the original on 16 July 2025. Retrieved 16 July 2025. Islamist insurgent groups ousted Syria's longtime despotic leader, Bashar Assad, in December, bringing an end to a nearly 14-year civil war. Since then, the country's new rulers have struggled to consolidate control over the territory.
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Supreme Legal Committee in Suwayda (from July 2025) [3] 
Israel 
Syrian Arab Republic (caretaker and transitional government)
Islamic State [4] 
Abdul Moneim al-Naseef [18] 
Sheikh Rakan Al-Khudair [19] 
