Sweida Clashes Leave Dozens Dead, Authorities Deploy Troops

Recent clashes between Bedouin tribes and Druze residents in Sweida, southern Syria, have resulted in at least 30 to 37 deaths and over 100 people injured. The violence, reportedly triggered by a spate of kidnappings including that of a Druze merchant, represents the first major deadly outbreak within Sweida city. In response, Syrian authorities have deployed troops to the area, closed the Damascus-Sweida highway, and postponed official exams. Local officials and Druze spiritual leaders are urging restraint as the city grapples with sectarian tensions. These events follow the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad by Islamist-led rebels last December, with new authorities struggling to maintain order. The longstanding feud between Bedouin and Druze communities remains a major challenge to stability in post-war Syria.