Syrian interim security forces, National Guard clash west of Sweida
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Violent clashes broke out in the Sweida governorate between National Guard units and armed groups affiliated with the Syrian Interim Government.
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A Druze militiaman mans a checkpoint following last week's sectarian clashes in the Druze-majority town of Sweida, Syria, Friday, July 25, 2025 (AP)
Violent clashes broke out at dawn on Sunday in the western sector of the Sweida governorate in southern Syria, pitting elements of the National Guard against forces affiliated with the Syrian interim government, local sources reported.
The clashes erupted along the Rima Hazim - Walgha axis in the northwestern part of the governorate, following an attempted infiltration by forces of the interim Government through the agricultural roads adjacent to the town of Walgha, the sources clarified.
The clashes were accompanied by the heavy presence of reconnaissance drones in the skies over the area, while intermittent clashes were also recorded along the Khirbet Samir - Ara axes, though no confirmed information regarding casualties has been reported so far.
This escalation comes amid a climate of rising tension throughout the Sweida governorate, which has witnessed reciprocal military movements for weeks between local forces and the factions deployed in its western and northern countryside. Widespread massacres and human rights violations were recorded during this period.
UN independent commission details violations, abuses in Sweida
The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria confirmed days ago that it had monitored a massive number of violations and abuses in the Sweida governorate in southern Syria.
The commission stated that it had heard "horrifying testimonies from residents about the violations committed against civilians in Sweida," also noting that "many of the acts were carried out in a brutal and inhumane manner." It added that "investigations are ongoing to ensure accountability and uncover the truth about what is happening in Sweida and other areas."
In a statement published on October 29, the Commission stated that while it had heard members of all communities recount horrific stories of brutalities committed against them, it had also documented many stories reflecting good neighborly relations and shared aspirations for peace and stability.
Sweida under fire
The governorate of Sweida witnessed clashes last July between armed Druze fighters and Bedouin tribal forces backed by the transitional government forces in Damascus, which led to the deaths of 2,026 people from field executions, Israeli airstrikes, and other forms of armed violence, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
On July 16, 2025, a ceasefire agreement was reached in the Sweida province between the Syrian government and local Druze leaders after several days of armed clashes. The deal, confirmed by the Syrian Interior Ministry, called for a full cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of Syrian Arab Army units from the city.
Despite this, arbitrary killings and attacks continue, with a recent crime taking place on October 28, when armed gunmen attacked a passenger bus near the Marjanah station on the Sweida-Damascus road, killing two people and wounding 11 others.
On October 25, Syrian sources reported that factions aligned with the Ministry of Defense stationed in the village of Walgha targeted armed groups in Sweida city with heavy weapons. Sources in Sweida added that local forces were responding to movements by these factions along the Atil–Walgha axis.
Living conditions also reached catastrophic levels in Sweida on October 4, as public bakeries in the governorate halted operations due to a lack of flour, leaving residents dependent on limited bread supplies from a small number of private bakeries, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
