Southern Syria clashes (July 2025–present)

Not to be confused with Southern Syria clashes (April–May 2025).

Southern Syria clashes
Part of the Syrian civil war and the Israeli invasion of Syria
Military situation as of 15 July 2025 at 21:00 AST
Date 13 July 2025 – present (3 days) Location Suwayda Governorate and Daraa Governorate, Syria Status Ongoing Territorial changes The Syrian transitional government takes control of the city of Suwayda and several towns from Druze factions. Clashes persist amidst ceasefire agreement
Belligerents
Druze armed groups Israel	Syria	Bedouin tribes
Commanders and leaders
Hikmat al-Hijri Benjamin Netanyahu Israel Katz	Ahmed al-Sharaa Murhaf Abu Qasra Anas Khattab Nizar al-Hariri	Unknown
Units involved
Men of Dignity Israel Defense Forces Israeli Air Force	Syrian Armed Forces Syrian Army General Security Service	Unknown
Casualties and losses
64 killed None	93 soldiers killed ( according to SOHR ) Several tanks struck by Israel 1 Shaheen drone shot down Several army convoy struck	18 Bedouins killed
200+ injured from all Syrian sides, including civilians 203+ civilians, including 21 executions

The Southern Syria clashes are a series of armed confrontations that began on 13 July 2025 between Druze armed groups, Bedouin tribal fighters and the Syrian government in the city of Suwayda and its surrounding villages in southern Syria, with spillover to the neighboring Daraa Governorate. The violence has led to numerous casualties and significantly heightened sectarian and security tensions across the governorate.

Background

Druze groups clashed multiple times earlier in the year, including clashes in February with the Syrian government in Jaramana, a Damascus suburb, and clashes in Southern Syria with Bedouin tribes that began in April and lasted until May.

Timeline

11 July

The violence was reportedly triggered by a robbery that happened on 11 July 2025 on the Damascus–Suwayda highway, in which a Druze vegetable merchant was assaulted by members of Bedouin tribes after they set up an improvised roadblock. The assailants stole his vehicle and belongings before forcibly taking him to a remote and rugged area. There, the group subjected him to sectarian insults and repeated death threats throughout his detention. He was later released blindfolded and in critical condition in a distant town. In response, local Druze armed groups detained several individuals from Bedouin tribes the next day in an effort to recover the stolen property. This initiated a cycle of retaliatory kidnappings between the two sides, which quickly escalated into open armed clashes.

13 July

Following the detention of several Bedouin individuals by the Druze armed groups, Bedouin fighters responded by establishing a checkpoint in the al-Maqwas neighborhood in eastern Suwayda city on 13 July, where they captured several members of the local Druze armed groups. Armed clashes soon erupted between the two sides in and around the area.

Violence soon spread beyond al-Maqwas to rural areas including al-Tireh, al-Mazraa, and al-Soura al-Kabira. Reports confirmed the use of mortars and other heavy weapons. The highway between Damascus and Suwayda was cut off by armed groups. Syrian government checkpoints came under attack by Bedouin fighters, leading to reported clashes between the assailants and government security forces in various parts of the region.

Reinforcements from Daraa Governorate arrived to the area to assist the Bedouin fighters.

Bedouin tribal fighters were reported to have advanced toward the outskirts of al-Tireh village. Most residents of the village were displaced toward al-Mazraa and Suwayda amidst the violent clashes, during which several homes were set on fire.

Meanwhile, Syrian government forces from the Ministry of Interior were dispatched to contain the fighting.

On the evening of 13 July, the Ministry of Education postponed the high school final exams originally scheduled for 14 July to a later date due to escalating security tensions in the region.

14 July

Several videos circulated on social media showed a vehicle belonging to the General Security Service, with an individual inside making sectarian remarks while declaring his involvement in the armed conflict in Suwayda. In response, the Security Forces Command in Daraa announced on 14 July the arrest of several security personnel who appeared in the video and said in a statement that the individuals acted independently and were not authorized to speak on matters related to civil peace. The officers involved were suspended from duty, and a formal investigation into the incident was launched.

On 14 July, the spiritual leadership of the Druze community in Syria headed by Hikmat al-Hijri issued a statement saying it is reaffirmed its previous demands, foremost among them an urgent call for international protection, citing the increasingly dangerous situation in Suwayda. The statement reiterated the leadership's rejection of any security forces entering their areas—specifically naming the General Security Service and another unnamed agency—accusing them of crossing into the province under the pretext of providing protection while allegedly shelling border villages and supporting extremist groups with heavy weaponry and drones. The spiritual leadership held all parties involved in attacks on local areas and civilians fully responsible, condemning any attempts to impose official security control over Suwayda as a direct threat to the safety of its residents. The statement concluded by emphasizing that international protection is an urgent necessity to prevent further bloodshed, calling on relevant international actors to intervene immediately.

The Syrian Ministry of Interior declared that its forces, in coordination with the Ministry of Defense, would begin a direct intervention in the region. The objective is to end the ongoing clashes, restore security, pursue those responsible for the violence, and bring them before the relevant judicial authorities. The ministry emphasized that this intervention aims to prevent further unrest and re-establish the rule of law in Suwayda. The Ministry of Interior later reported that several of its security personnel were "abducted" while carrying out a security deployment aimed at restoring order and containing the clashes in the al-Maqwas neighborhood.

Shelling was reported in the neighboring Daraa Governorate, in which 4 civilians were wounded.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that it obtained multiple video and voice recordings from the clashes that it would refrain from publishing due to its highly sensitive nature. The recordings reportedly contain elements that could undermine Syria's national cohesion, inflame sectarian tensions, and further incite discord among citizens.

Israeli Air Force fighter jets were reported to have conducted low-altitude flights over the western countryside of Suwayda, deploying flares during their intensified aerial presence in the area. The Israeli Army later announced that it had struck multiple tanks belonging to the Syrian Army in Suwayda Governorate. However the tank was repaired and was deployed again in an hour. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the strike was "a message and a clear warning to the Syrian regime. We will not allow harm to the Druze in Syria". A total of three Israeli strikes were reported.

15 July

The Druze spiritual leadership announced their approval for government forces to enter Suwayda with the aim of stopping the ongoing violence. They urged all armed factions in the area to cooperate and surrender their weapons. However, later that day, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri released a video urging Druze fighters to "resist this brutal campaign by all available means", accusing government forces of violating the ceasefire by shelling Suwayda city.

Protests erupted on several main roads in northern Israel as members of the Druze community demonstrated in solidarity with Druze in Syria. The protesters called for international intervention to safeguard Syria's Druze minority from "Islamist factions aligned with the regime".

Israel conducted further strikes in al-Mazraa after the Syrian Armed Forces took control of the town. Strikes were also reported on the outskirts of Suwayda. Intensive airstrikes continued across Suwayda following the announcement of a ceasefire. The airstrikes targeted military equipment and convoys of the Syrian armed forces. The airstrikes targeted military convoys , one syrian army convoy was struck in Suwayda resulting in the casuality of at least one soldier.

At least two Israeli strikes were reported targeting locations near the 12th Brigade in the northeastern countryside of Izra in Daraa Governorate.

The Mar Michael Church in the town of al-Soura al-Kabira was robbed, vandalized, and burned amid the chaos.

Dozens of civilian Israeli Druze were reported to have crossed the fence from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights at Hader, near Majdal Shams, towards the Syrian side. The IDF said that its troops were "working to safely return the civilians who crossed the border".

16 July

Israel Air Force executed at least 7 airstrikes against multiple targets in Suwayda's countryside, including on the al-Tha'lah Military Airbase.

De-escalation efforts

Suwayda Governor Moustafa al-Bakkour immediately called for calm, warning against sectarian strife and urging restraint. Al-Bakkour reaffirmed the state's commitment to protecting civilians and praised local efforts for conflict resolution. While Brigadier General Nizar al-Hariri, deputy chief of the Internal Security Service , linked the escalation to the fallout from the highway robbery and subsequent abductions. He stated that local and security efforts were underway to de-escalate the violence.

Sheikh Hammoud al-Hinnawi, one of the Druze religious leaders in Syria, issued a public appeal on 13 July calling for calm and the avoidance of further violence, he urged all parties to reject sectarian strife, cease retaliatory actions, and uphold the rule of law. Al-Hinnawi addressed his message directly to President Ahmed al-Sharaa, tribal leaders, and all individuals of conscience, urging them to take active steps to prevent further bloodshed. He affirmed that the Druze community seeks justice and stability, stating that "dignity is preserved through reason and wisdom, not through weapons and abductions".

Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt voiced his support for a political resolution to the crisis in Suwayda, emphasizing that such a solution should take place under the framework of the Syrian government. He rejected any external intervention under the pretext of protecting the Druze community, stating, "We hope that security will be restored through a political solution". He further called upon the Druze factions in Syria to seek intregation with the government amidst continued conflict.

Syrian Minister of Defense Murhaf Abu Qasra announced a ceasefire effective from 15 July after an agreement with the Druze leaders in Suwayda. The Syrian Ministry of Interior warned against any damage to private or public property in Suwayda.

The United States negotiated with Israel to halt its airstrikes against Syria as an step towards de-escalation between the two nations.

See also

• Southern Syria clashes (April–May 2025)
• 2025 Southern Syria bombings