Nearly 2,000 Dead in July Violence in Syria’s Sweida, Syrian Observatory Reports

Nearly 2,000 Dead in July Violence in Syria’s Sweida, Syrian Observatory Reports
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A recent report by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has confirmed that nearly 2,000 people were killed during violent clashes in Syria’s Sweida province in July. The updated death toll, released Friday, follows the discovery and identification of dozens of previously inaccessible bodies in the region.

The violence erupted on July 13, initially involving armed confrontations between Druze fighters and Bedouin militias. The clashes escalated into intense battles with the involvement of Syrian government forces and allied tribal militias. The conflict included multiple violations and field executions targeting the Druze minority, according to SOHR.

SOHR Director Rami Abdel Rahman reported that the death toll has now reached 1,990, including 14 deaths recorded after the ceasefire took effect on July 20. The increase in casualties comes as new bodies were recovered from villages and towns that were previously difficult to access due to ongoing fighting.

Among the victims, 725 were Sweida residents, predominantly Druze, with 167 civilians killed in the clashes. SOHR also documented 765 Druze civilians executed in field killings by the Syrian Ministry of Defense and Interior forces. Government forces suffered 436 fatalities, while Bedouin fighters lost 40, including three who were reportedly executed by Druze fighters.

The report also includes 21 additional deaths linked to Israeli airstrikes during the conflict, which targeted government and allied forces. Israel stated its intervention aimed to protect the Druze minority and prevent military entrenchment in southern Syria. Following weeks of conflict, Syrian authorities reopened the main highway connecting Sweida to Damascus.

Official Syrian news sources confirmed the delivery of fuel and aid convoys to the province, though SOHR noted that government-aligned fighters had previously blocked this crucial route. The government has also sent multiple aid shipments through neighboring Daraa province. The ongoing tensions in Sweida highlight the fragile security situation in southern Syria, where sectarian and tribal disputes continue to pose challenges to stability and civilian safety.