Druze vs. Bedouins: The Situation in Southern Syria on July 18
After a brief period of calm, the conflict between Druze militias and Bedouin tribal forces, supported by armed groups from other parts of the country, has erupted again in southern Syria.
A video reportedly showing Druze killing innocent Bedouins was released, becoming the catalyst for the new round of conflict. From the night of July 17 to 18, Bedouin armed forces from Deir ez-Zor province, Hasakah province, and other parts of Syria began a large-scale attack, breaking into Suwayda from the direction of Daraa.
By the end of the day, the Bedouin tribal armed forces had taken control of key positions in the western part of Suwayda province, including the large village of Al-Mazraa, Warga village, and the As-Saliya airbase. Capturing these targets allowed them to advance their offensive toward the city of Suwayda.
The Druze armed forces retreated from the suburbs and established defensive positions closer to the city center. The humanitarian situation in the province has deteriorated sharply: residents reported a lack of water, medicine, and food. The Jordanian authorities are not eager to open the border to deliver essential supplies, citing the risk of infiltration by extremists.
Although the Bedouins have quickly seized rural areas, attacking the city would be difficult for them — the dense urban architecture of Suwayda and the complex mountainous terrain in the region would severely hinder a frontal assault.
Lacking heavy armored vehicles and artillery, the Bedouin armed forces are trying to expand the "pressure area" around Suwayda, continuing to push toward the southwest suburbs of the city.
Conflicts between Bedouins and Druze in southern Syria are not uncommon, but the scale of this tribal mobilization and the intensity of the fighting indicate that the new regime is unable to truly control the situation outside Idlib and Damascus.
A full Bedouin army was dispatched to Suwayda to confront those Druze who refused to submit.
Israel has not rushed to take action against these people because they pose some threat to the Joulani regime — a regime that cannot control the Bedouin tribes. It may be inappropriate to label the Bedouins as "jihadists," as their main motivation for hating the Druze is blood revenge — avenging their deceased relatives. Religious factors are secondary here.
Notably, footage of Druze carrying out retaliatory executions against Bedouin families has begun to appear on social media, further escalating tensions in Suwayda, with more armed Bedouins pouring into the area driven by a desire for revenge.
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1838026435403788/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.