Following a week of intense violence between Bedouin tribes and Druse militias in Sweida, the Syrian government announced an evacuation of Bedouin families. The cessation of hostilities prompted deployment of security forces, with President Ahmed al-Shara warning of further dangers to national stability.**
Syrian Government Evacuates Bedouin Families Amid Ongoing Sectarian Conflict**
Syrian Government Evacuates Bedouin Families Amid Ongoing Sectarian Conflict**
Hundreds of Bedouin families are being evacuated from the southern province of Sweida following violent clashes that left over 1,100 dead, with regional tensions heightening due to Israeli military actions.**
As violence escalated in Sweida, a southern province in Syria, over 1,100 people were reported killed in under a week of clashes between Bedouin tribes and Druse militias. In response, the Syrian government declared a cease-fire on Saturday and commenced the evacuation of hundreds of Bedouin families trapped in the region, aiming to restore calm amid fears of continuing sectarian strife.
The clashes erupted earlier this month, leading to urgent international concern as it also drew Israel into the conflict, prompting its military to carry out airstrikes on Syrian government locations in the capital, Damascus, aimed at defending the Druse population.
President Ahmed al-Shara, speaking on Saturday, characterized the violence as a "dangerous turning point" for Syria, with the Israeli involvement exacerbating the risks to national stability. As Turkey and nearby nations watched closely, the government promised a security overhaul, deploying forces across the province to safeguard civilians and maintain order.
Evacuations started as sporadic fighting continued, with families leaving Sweida both in private cars and government buses. Brig. Gen. Ahmad al-Dalati communicated the administration's commitment to facilitate the exit of civilians wishing to leave the province for safety, relocating them to the neighboring province of Daraa.
The conflict marks a long-standing struggle for dominance and territory between the Bedouin tribes and the Druse community, with historical grievances over land rights contributing to the volatile situation. Noureddine Al-Baba, an Interior Ministry spokesperson, emphasized that the government's intervention was necessary to protect civilians, who had become hostages in the escalating violence that hindered effective governmental response.
As the situation remains grave, the fate of many civilians hangs in the balance amid fears of a recurrence of deadly confrontations.
