Sweida clashes death toll hits 1,339 amid fragile Syria truce
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The death toll from the Sweida clashes in Syria has reached 1,339, including civilians, amid a shaky US-brokered ceasefire and ongoing Israeli airstrikes.
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Morgue workers place the bodies of unidentified people killed during clashes between Bedouin clans and Druze fighters into plastic bags outside the National Hospital in Sweida, Syria, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Wednesday that the death toll from the recent outbreak of violence in the southern province of Sweida has climbed to 1,339 fatalities over an 11-day period.
Fierce clashes erupted on Sunday, July 13, between armed members of the Druze community and forces affiliated with Syria's ministries of defense and interior, alongside allied Bedouin tribes. The fighting led to high casualties on both sides, as well as among civilians, amid reports of field executions, human rights violations, and Israeli airstrikes targeting Syrian military sites.
Heavy toll on Druze civilians, Syrian forces
According to the Observatory, the casualties include:
- 657 individuals from Sweida, including 124 civilians, among them 10 children and 24 women.
- 464 personnel from Syria's Ministry of Defense and security services, including 40 Bedouin tribal fighters and one Lebanese national.
- 15 government forces killed in Israeli airstrikes, in addition to three individuals—a woman and two unidentified persons—killed when Israeli aircraft targeted the Ministry of Defense building.
- One journalist was killed during the clashes.
- 196 people were summarily executed, including 30 women, 8 children, and an elderly man, by government forces. Additionally, three Bedouin tribe members, including a woman and a child, were executed by Druze gunmen, according to the report.
Casualty numbers expected to rise
The Observatory stressed that the current figures remain incomplete, with ongoing efforts to identify the dead and locate the missing. Several bodies remain unidentified, and the number of confirmed victims is expected to grow in the coming days.
The Observatory reports that relative calm has prevailed across frontlines since July 21, following the implementation of a US-brokered ceasefire agreement. The deal includes a prisoner exchange and threatens to keep Syria on the US list of state sponsors of terrorism should the agreement be violated.
As part of the agreement, Druze forces reportedly released around 1,300 tribal captives as a goodwill gesture, while the government side is expected to release 110 Druze prisoners within 48 hours. Minor violations have been reported since the ceasefire took effect.
Renewed violence and Israeli aggression
Despite the ceasefire, renewed tensions erupted Monday in northern Sweida. Intermittent clashes were reported near the towns of Umm al-Zeitoun and Shahba, as government-aligned tribal forces attempted to advance toward Qanawat, the hometown of Druze leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri. At least four tribal fighters were killed during the fighting, according to the Observatory.
The skies near Shahba witnessed the flight of an Israeli warplane, which reportedly launched a thermal balloon in a warning maneuver, further reflecting the fragile security situation in the region.
In response to the violence, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has called for the formation of an independent UN committee to investigate the “grave violations and crimes” committed in Sweida. The organization stressed the importance of holding all perpetrators accountable, regardless of affiliation, and ensuring justice for the victims.
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