The ceasefire declared on Saturday by the Syrian government seems to have temporarily halted hostilities in Suweida, where tribal tensions have spiraled into violence. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) confirmed that residents reported a "cautious calm" settling in the area as combat between Druze fighters, Bedouin gunmen, and government forces ceased on Sunday. Heavy fighting had erupted over a week ago, triggered by the abduction of a Druze merchant, leading to a bloody confrontation that has claimed over 1,000 lives and resulted in dire shortages of medical supplies, according to SOHR.
On Saturday, President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced a ceasefire to curtail the escalating violence, which saw the armed forces intervening to restore stability. The withdrawal of Bedouin factions from pivotal regions of the largely Druze city was confirmed as government troops implemented roadblocks to control access and ensure safety. Reports indicate that local Druze forces effectively drove Bedouins from key areas, although sporadic violence persisted in other parts of the province.
Witnesses describe a tense calm enveloping Suweida on Sunday morning, yet the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. A local resident voiced urgent pleas for immediate assistance, highlighting the "severe shortage" of medical aid, with hospitals described as overwhelmed and out of service. Kenan Azzam, a dentist working in the city, lamented the catastrophic condition of local medical facilities amidst the ongoing crisis. As of Sunday, it was reported that no relief efforts had yet arrived to aid the beleaguered population.
Compounding the situation, the smell of decay permeated the local hospital, with reports of corpses within the facility indicating the grim reality faced by residents. This brief respite in violence raises concerns about future stability as the Druze and Bedouin communities navigate their fraught relationship in a deeply divided region of Syria.
On Saturday, President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced a ceasefire to curtail the escalating violence, which saw the armed forces intervening to restore stability. The withdrawal of Bedouin factions from pivotal regions of the largely Druze city was confirmed as government troops implemented roadblocks to control access and ensure safety. Reports indicate that local Druze forces effectively drove Bedouins from key areas, although sporadic violence persisted in other parts of the province.
Witnesses describe a tense calm enveloping Suweida on Sunday morning, yet the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. A local resident voiced urgent pleas for immediate assistance, highlighting the "severe shortage" of medical aid, with hospitals described as overwhelmed and out of service. Kenan Azzam, a dentist working in the city, lamented the catastrophic condition of local medical facilities amidst the ongoing crisis. As of Sunday, it was reported that no relief efforts had yet arrived to aid the beleaguered population.
Compounding the situation, the smell of decay permeated the local hospital, with reports of corpses within the facility indicating the grim reality faced by residents. This brief respite in violence raises concerns about future stability as the Druze and Bedouin communities navigate their fraught relationship in a deeply divided region of Syria.
