Syria Probes Sweida Clashes After Deadly Violence

The Syrian government has formed a committee to investigate the deadly sectarian clashes that erupted on July 13 in Sweida province, resulting in hundreds to over a thousand deaths and the displacement of up to 175,000 people. The violence broke out between local Druze militias and Bedouin tribal fighters, with government forces intervening and becoming embroiled in the conflict. In a significant escalation, Israel launched airstrikes on Syrian troops in support of the Druze. The committee, which includes judges, lawyers, and a military official, is tasked with investigating the origins of the conflict and reported civilian abuses, with findings due within three months. This marks the second major outbreak of sectarian violence since the ouster of Bashar al-Assad, further complicating efforts by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa to stabilize the country. A US-brokered truce eventually ended the fighting, but longstanding tensions among Druze, Sunni, and Alawite communities remain.