Cautious calm prevails in Suwayda after ceasefire breaches kill two, injure seven
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - At least two people were killed and seven others wounded in new ceasefire breaches between government forces and local Druze fighters - including reported drone attacks - as a cautious calm settled over south Syria’s Suwayda province on Tuesday.
In a late Tuesday statement on X, Syria’s interior ministry condemned what it called a “terrorist attack” on a security checkpoint in Suwayda’s western countryside, blaming “outlaw gangs” for the assault.
One security officer was killed and two others injured, the ministry said, adding that its units had engaged the source of fire.
“These attacks are aimed at undermining security and stability in the lives of civilians in Suwayda province,” the statement added.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) provided further details.
The war monitor said that the casualties resulted from clashes between “forces aligned with the transitional government” and members of Suwayda’s “National Guard” in the village of Barad, southwest of the Druze-majority province.
The National Guard is a unified local Druze paramilitary group formed in late August that brings together more than 30 armed factions under the authority of the Druze spiritual leader Hikmat al-Hajri - a prominent critic of Damascus advocating for Druze self-determination.
SOHR also reported that “one civilian was killed and five others wounded in two separate attacks along the Atil-Suleim road north of Suwayda city.”
The first was “carried out by a weaponized drone belonging to the transitional government, targeting a chicken transport vehicle,” while the second involved “heavy machine-gun fire on a location in the same area.”
The monitor - which relies on a network of local sources - also noted “mortar shells landing near the town of Kafr al-Luhuf from areas held by Damascus and allied forces northwest of Suwayda.”
The latest tensions follow intense mid-November clashes between state-affiliated forces and Druze fighters.
“Heavy and medium machineguns and mortars were used during the clashes which lasted until dawn and were concentrated on the frontlines of the towns and villages of” Suwayda province, SOHR then reported, adding that there are unconfirmed reports of casualties on both sides.
Late last month, unidentified gunmen opened fire on a passenger coach on the Damascus-Suwayda road, causing casualties - namely Druze civilians.
Fighting between Druze factions and Bedouin tribes in mid-July escalated with the involvement of Damascus and Israel before a ceasefire was reached on July 19. Since then, Syrian security forces have been deployed across the province, while Druze factions continue to control Suwayda city. However, dozens of ceasefire breaches have been recorded by both sides.
In a late Tuesday statement on X, Syria’s interior ministry condemned what it called a “terrorist attack” on a security checkpoint in Suwayda’s western countryside, blaming “outlaw gangs” for the assault.
One security officer was killed and two others injured, the ministry said, adding that its units had engaged the source of fire.
“These attacks are aimed at undermining security and stability in the lives of civilians in Suwayda province,” the statement added.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) provided further details.
The war monitor said that the casualties resulted from clashes between “forces aligned with the transitional government” and members of Suwayda’s “National Guard” in the village of Barad, southwest of the Druze-majority province.
The National Guard is a unified local Druze paramilitary group formed in late August that brings together more than 30 armed factions under the authority of the Druze spiritual leader Hikmat al-Hajri - a prominent critic of Damascus advocating for Druze self-determination.
SOHR also reported that “one civilian was killed and five others wounded in two separate attacks along the Atil-Suleim road north of Suwayda city.”
The first was “carried out by a weaponized drone belonging to the transitional government, targeting a chicken transport vehicle,” while the second involved “heavy machine-gun fire on a location in the same area.”
The monitor - which relies on a network of local sources - also noted “mortar shells landing near the town of Kafr al-Luhuf from areas held by Damascus and allied forces northwest of Suwayda.”
The latest tensions follow intense mid-November clashes between state-affiliated forces and Druze fighters.
“Heavy and medium machineguns and mortars were used during the clashes which lasted until dawn and were concentrated on the frontlines of the towns and villages of” Suwayda province, SOHR then reported, adding that there are unconfirmed reports of casualties on both sides.
Late last month, unidentified gunmen opened fire on a passenger coach on the Damascus-Suwayda road, causing casualties - namely Druze civilians.
Fighting between Druze factions and Bedouin tribes in mid-July escalated with the involvement of Damascus and Israel before a ceasefire was reached on July 19. Since then, Syrian security forces have been deployed across the province, while Druze factions continue to control Suwayda city. However, dozens of ceasefire breaches have been recorded by both sides.