Syria struggles to quell deadly Bedouin-Druze clashes in south

[Eugene]

Source: BBC

Syria struggles to quell deadly Bedouin-Druze clashes in south

20 July 2025

Jon Donnison
BBC News, Damascus•@jondonnisonbbc
Jaroslav Lukiv & Amy Walker
BBC News

Sectarian clashes have continued in southern Syria despite an "immediate ceasefire" announced by the country's president.

Reports say that Druze fighters on Saturday pushed out Bedouin gunmen from the city of Suweida - but fighting continued in other parts of the province. This has not been verified by the BBC.

Government forces deployed earlier this week by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa were blamed for joining in attacks on the Druze. More than 900 people are reported to have been killed in the past week. All sides are accused of atrocities.

The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, demanded an end to "the rape and slaughter of innocent people" in Syria, in a post on X on Saturday.

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Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0m87d4p9gvo