Calm returned to the city of Sweida on Sunday following a week of deadly clashes between Druze fighters, Bedouin groups, and Syrian government forces, with Damascus declaring the ceasefire is holding after Bedouin fighters withdrew from the city.

Interior Minister Anas Khattab said internal security forces had restored relative order and established roadblocks around the city to enforce the truce. “This paves the way for a prisoner exchange and the gradual return of stability throughout the governorate,” Khattab said.

Aftermath of Bloodshed

Residents described the situation as a fragile calm amid devastation. “The hospitals are a disaster and out of service,” said Kenan Azzam, a local dentist, while another resident, Raed Khazaal, reported the “smell of corpses” lingering in the national hospital. Power and water outages continue to afflict the city.

Fighting erupted the previous week, initially between Bedouin and Druze factions, but rapidly escalated when Syrian troops deployed to intervene and were drawn into the conflict. Witnesses accused government forces of executing civilians at close range in their homes and on the streets.

Aid Blocked, Sectarian Tensions Persist

While the Syrian Red Crescent was allowed to deliver aid, state-run convoys were reportedly turned back by local factions, highlighting continued distrust between residents and the Damascus government.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights documented at least 321 deaths in Sweida since July 13, including civilians, security personnel, Druze fighters, and Bedouins. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported a toll exceeding 940.

President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has received U.S. backing, condemned the violence and promised justice for Druze victims. He blamed “outlaw groups” for the unrest and said he had reviewed a report on a separate March massacre in Syria’s coastal region, where 1,500 Alawites were killed — adding another layer to the regime’s sectarian challenges.

US and Israeli Roles

U.S. envoy Tom Barrack called on all parties to lay down arms, stating Syria was at a “critical juncture.” Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended recent airstrikes in Sweida and Damascus, saying Israel would enforce demilitarisation near its border to protect Druze communities.

An Israeli official confirmed that Israel agreed to allow Syrian forces limited access to Sweida for two days to facilitate de-escalation.