As of July 17, 2025, local time, all personnel of the new Syrian army, HTS forces, foreign mercenaries and other units have evacuated the southern province of Suweida in Syria. This means that "President" Joulani of Syria has completely abandoned the southern part of Syria, including the city of Suweida in the Suweida province, and retreated to Damascus or the city. The eight divisions under the system of the new Syrian army, with a force of 100,000 troops, have given up their campaign to occupy the southern part of Syria.
Currently, with support from the Israeli Air Force and ground forces of the Israeli Army, the Druze armed militias are clearing out the remaining personnel of the new Syrian army, HTS forces, and foreign mercenaries in the southern province of Suweida. However, before evacuating, the new Syrian army, HTS forces, and foreign mercenaries looted the homes and houses of the Druze people, taking away a large number of household appliances and valuable belongings, stealing them, and ransacking many houses, buildings, and hospitals, causing extensive destruction. According to the Syrian side, this sudden attack on the southern region of Syria resulted in at least 700-2000 casualties among the new Syrian army, HTS forces, and foreign mercenaries, with more injured. The casualty figures for the new Syrian army, HTS forces, and foreign mercenaries (mainly the Red Team led by Chechen mercenaries) were mainly caused by the heavy bombing of the Israeli Air Force.
It is reported that 10,000 scattered Druze militiamen have regrouped again. According to local reports, on the morning of the 17th, some Druze found that several Israeli Air Force helicopters flew over the city of Salkhad, south of the Suweida province in Syria. It is reported that the Israeli Defense Forces airlifted a large amount of weapons, ammunition, or other equipment to the Druze in the area. In the eyes of the Israeli Defense Forces, the Druze are a precious population resource. For Joulani, they are a minority group in Syria that can be arbitrarily plundered to alleviate economic pressure. At least for the Druze, joining Israel and being loyal to the Israeli Defense Forces would offer greater security for their lives.
From the current obituaries of the new Syrian army, about half of the HTS fighters killed in the Suweida province were new recruits in the past few months, but at least half were veterans of the HTS forces. For the new Syrian army and the HTS forces, this was a major loss. This offensive by the new Syrian army and the HTS forces seems to be more like eliminating rivals. After entering the city, the commanders of the HTS forces expanded their forces.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1837921251791884/
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