The decision to enforce a curfew was announced by the head of internal security in Sweida after what he called “bloody incidents” in the city and surrounding areas. Civilians were urged to stay indoors, and armed factions were warned against using residential buildings as cover.

The Syrian Ministry of Defense confirmed it had launched a full-scale operation to push back militias operating on the outskirts of Sweida, accusing them of looting, arson, and assaults on Druze villages. These groups reportedly seized five towns before government troops moved in.

According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 99 people have been killed since Sunday, including 60 Druze fighters, two women, two children, 18 Bedouin combatants, and 14 regime soldiers.

Talks With Druze Leaders And Religious Mediation

In parallel with the military campaign, negotiations are underway between the Syrian government and representatives of the Druze-majority region. Bassam Fakher, spokesperson for the influential Druze militia “Men of Dignity,” confirmed talks are taking place to achieve a ceasefire and local security arrangement.

Fakher stated that a previous agreement with Damascus had called for forming a joint military-police body comprised of Sweida natives. “We were ready to implement it, but the government kept delaying,” he said. He also blamed rival armed groups and some Bedouin tribal fighters for exacerbating the violence.

In a rare public statement, the spiritual leadership of the Druze community called for an immediate ceasefire, rejecting extremism and demanding that any future local policing be handled by “the honorable sons of Sweida.”

The renewed unrest comes seven months after Syria’s new leadership took power in Damascus, following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. The Sweida escalation underscores ongoing challenges in consolidating post-Assad authority across fractured regions.