Sweida, Syria – After seven days of intense clashes between Bedouin and Druze fighters, residents of this predominantly Druze city breathed a tentative sigh of relief on Sunday as tribal forces reportedly withdrew under a shaky truce. With no gunfire echoing through the streets, locals describe the scene as a “tense calm.”
According to a journalist on the city’s outskirts and a Druze community source, most neighborhoods were quiet by dawn. However, the actual mood remains cautious. Dentist Kenan Azzam paints a stark picture: “There’s no electricity or running water, and our hospitals are out of service. Many are still dead or wounded.”
The recent flare-up began after Bedouin and Druze factions clashed over land and resource disputes. The Syrian presidency dispatched troops to enforce order, but those forces were accused of widespread abuses against the Druze community. Israeli strikes then targeted positions in the region before all sides agreed to a ceasefire on Wednesday.
Despite early hopes, Saturday’s new truce collapsed, underscoring the challenges faced by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in uniting a fractured nation. Meanwhile, the United States has intensified diplomatic pressure, calling for an immediate halt to hostilities and a return to political dialogue.
For Sweida’s residents, the path to stability hinges on restoring basic services, ensuring accountability, and securing a durable peace. As the city grapples with post-conflict recovery, its experience offers a reminder of the complex interplay between local power dynamics and international influence in today’s fractured geopolitics.
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Calm reported in Syria's Sweida as tribal fighters said to withdraw
cgtn.com
