Syrian authorities faced serious accusations of executing civilians in Sweida, a mainly Druze region on Tuesday. This happened as Israel launched strikes on Syrian government forces, claiming it was protecting the Druze minority.

The Syrian army had entered Sweida after deadly clashes broke out between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribes. These clashes had already killed more than 100 people.

Israel Launches Strikes After Ceasefire Announcement

Just after Syria’s defence minister announced a ceasefire in Sweida, Israel launched attacks targeting Syrian military forces. Syrian troops had entered the city earlier that day.

Damascus strongly condemned the Israeli strikes. The government said it had “a legitimate right to defend its land and its people.”

Human Rights Group Reports Civilian Executions

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Syrian forces and their allied groups killed at least 19 people in and around Sweida.

The monitor said, “Forces from the defence and interior ministries carried out field executions of 12 civilians after storming the Radwan family guest house in the city of Sweida.”

The group further reported that armed groups connected to the government executed four Druze civilians at another guest house. Additionally, they killed three siblings in front of their mother in a village north of Sweida.

Mixed Reactions from Druze Leaders

Most Druze religious leaders had supported the government sending troops to the area. However, one influential leader called for armed resistance and earlier appealed for “international protection.”

Israel Claims to Protect Druze, Warns Syria

Israel, which also has a Druze population, claimed it was acting to protect the community. Israeli leaders said they were trying to stop the Syrian army from operating near Israel’s border, which they see as a security threat.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a joint statement, “We are acting to prevent the Syrian regime from harming them and to ensure the demilitarisation of the area adjacent to our border with Syria.”

Shortly after the statement, Israel’s military confirmed that it began striking Syrian military vehicles in the area. Syrian state media also reported the Israeli attacks.

Syria Calls Israeli Strikes “Treacherous”

Syria’s Islamist-led government condemned what it called “the treacherous Israeli aggression.” It said the strikes killed security personnel and “several innocent civilians.”

Interestingly, this escalation followed a rare meeting between Syrian and Israeli officials in Azerbaijan days earlier.

US Calls Situation “Worrisome”

US special envoy Tom Barrack described the situation as “worrisome.” The United States, which supports Israel and seeks better ties with Syria, is calling for peace talks. Barrack said Washington wanted “a peaceful, inclusive outcome for Druze, Bedouin tribes, the Syrian government and Israeli forces.”

Ceasefire Declared in Sweida

Syria’s Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra announced a “complete ceasefire” in Sweida on Tuesday after talks with local leaders. “We will respond only to sources of fire and deal with any targeting by outlaw groups,” he said in a post on X.

Druze leaders gathered at Sheikh Youssef Jarbouh’s home to discuss how to implement the ceasefire. Gunfire in the city stopped soon after the announcement. Government troops were later seen waving Syrian flags in the city.

Not All Druze Leaders Agree with Government

Although most Druze spiritual leaders supported the military’s deployment, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri urged his people to resist. He said in a statement that they must resist “this brutal campaign by all available means.”

To stop further violence, authorities announced a curfew in Sweida. The fighting had started over the weekend and quickly spread across the province.

How Violence Began

The violence reportedly began when Bedouin gunmen kidnapped a Druze vegetable seller near Damascus. This led to retaliatory kidnappings by the Druze. In earlier confrontations, Bedouin tribes, who are Sunni Muslims, often supported Syrian government forces against the Druze.

According to the Syrian Observatory, clashes since Sunday have killed 116 people. This includes 64 Druze fighters, 34 government soldiers, and 18 Bedouins. Syria’s defence ministry said 18 of its soldiers died.

Fear of More Killings

A woman named Amal, aged 46, expressed her fear of a possible massacre like one that happened in northwest Syria earlier this year. She said, “We are not against the state, but we are against surrendering our weapons without a state that treats everyone the same.”

Earlier this year, over 1,700 mostly Alawite civilians were killed in northwest Syria, allegedly by groups linked to the government.

Political Background

These events are testing Syria’s interim leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, who took power after ousting Bashar al-Assad in December. His government has struggled to control the situation, as past agreements with Druze leaders had allowed Druze fighters to handle security in their areas.