Sweida military council committed to dialogue and defense of land
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The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has reported a staggering death toll of more than 1,000 people in Sweida province over the past seven days following deadly clashes.
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Syrian government security forces block Bedouin fighters from entering Sweida province in southern Syria on July 20, 2025. (AP)
The Sweida Military Council has stated that the ongoing events in the region are a "continuation of the aggression carried out by terrorist organizations bearing the flags of ISIS and al-Nusra, committing their crimes in full view of the world."
Emphasizing its commitment to peaceful resolution and dialogue, the Council noted that it had "repeatedly sought to reach an understanding with the transitional government in Damascus, but received no serious response."
According to the statement, the Council had "put forward initiatives to stop the bloodshed and protect civilians," yet these proposals were met with inaction as the crisis in the governorate escalated.
"The resistance will continue in defense of our land and our people," the statement affirmed, adding, "we will not allow anyone to break our resolve or weaken our steadfastness."
In response, the Syrian presidency announced an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire in Sweida, stating that security forces have begun deploying across several areas to ensure the truce is upheld.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has reported a staggering death toll of more than 1,000 people in the Sweida province over the past seven days, following a wave of intense and deadly clashes. Among the dead are 194 civilians who were summarily executed, as violence escalates and humanitarian conditions deteriorate rapidly.
In a statement issued Sunday, the Observatory called for the formation of an independent UN investigation committee to probe what it described as a "catastrophic toll" and to hold those responsible for the bloodshed accountable under international law.
Sweida province, predominantly home to the Druze community, has been reeling from a sharp escalation in violence, leaving the region on the brink of collapse. The province is suffering from a near-total lack of drinking water, electricity, and essential food and medical supplies, with many of the wounded unable to access proper treatment.
Humanitarian collapse worsens in Sweida
Sweida’s National Hospital is reportedly overwhelmed, with morgue facilities overflowing and corpses decomposing in various parts of the facility, creating dire sanitary conditions. Due to the lack of medical supplies and ongoing violence, many families have been unable to bury their dead.
Amid the crisis, local and international media outlets, including those affiliated with the interim Syrian government, launched a widespread media campaign alleging massacres targeting women and children from Bedouin tribes at the hands of armed Druze militants. However, verification efforts revealed that only one such video was authentic, showing the killing of a woman, a man, and a child from Bedouin backgrounds. The rest of the footage was either unrelated to the current events, depicted violence against Druze civilians, or came from unrelated contexts elsewhere in Syria or abroad.
This media narrative sparked a mobilization among Arab tribes, culminating in renewed clashes across several areas of Sweida in recent days. Armed tribal fighters reportedly raided Druze homes and properties in various villages, exacerbating the violence and causing additional casualties.
