Syria to Redeploy Forces to Suwayda; Israel Strikes Bedouin Convoy

A fresh wave of bloody clashes has erupted between Druze and Bedouin clans in Syria’s southern Suwayda province. Following the deaths of over a hundred people in just a few days, the Syrian Ministry of Interior has decided to redeploy government forces to the region in an effort to quell the violence.

However, the situation has become more complex with Israel’s intervention. On Friday (July 18), Israeli forces carried out an airstrike on a convoy of Bedouin fighters along the Palmyra-Homs highway. According to Israeli state broadcaster Kan News, the fighters were heading toward Suwayda.

Just two days earlier, Israel had launched a major air raid on Syria’s capital, Damascus.

Meanwhile, on Thursday night, Bedouin fighters announced they had launched a new offensive against the Druze groups. Previously, the Syrian government had already withdrawn troops from Suwayda. President Ahmed al-Sharaa had attempted to mediate and stop the clashes, but those efforts appear to have failed.

Troop Deployment at the Request of Locals

Reporting from Damascus, Al Jazeera journalist Zeina Khodr said that a source from the Ministry of Interior confirmed the new troop deployment was made following appeals from local residents in Suwayda.

"Although a few Bedouin families live in the area, they have also called upon tribes from other provinces to come to their aid," Khodr added.

She further noted, "The old rift between Druze and Bedouins has been intensifying since the fall of Bashar al-Assad. There were previous instances of minor violence, but this time the situation is different. Now, the Bedouin groups themselves are seeking government support.”

Israel’s Warning and Airstrikes

Israel had earlier warned that it would not tolerate a Syrian government military presence in the south. Acting on that warning, Israeli jets struck the Bedouin convoy on the Palmyra-Homs highway. However, the number of casualties from the attack remains unclear.

Position of Bedouin Fighters

In a statement to Reuters, a Bedouin military commander said that the existing ceasefire with government forces does not apply to them. “We are fighting to free our people who are being held by Druze armed groups,” he said.

Meanwhile, a video circulating on social media shows Bedouin tribal leader Abdul Muneem al-Nasif standing with armed fighters, urging other tribes to join the cause. “To protect our people from genocide and to fulfill God’s command, we call upon all Syrian tribes to come to Sweida,” he declared. “We will fight only in self-defense to uphold Islamic values and Arab identity.”

UN Expresses Concern

The United Nations Office for Human Rights has expressed deep concern over the ongoing bloodshed. UN High Commissioner Volker Türk stated, “This violence must end. Under international human rights law, it is the primary responsibility of Syrian authorities to ensure the safety of all civilians.”

Sources: Al Jazeera, Reuters, Kan News