The Syrian government has begun evacuating hundreds of Bedouin families from the southern city of Suwayda, where a fragile ceasefire is holding after Druze and Bedouin fighters clashed for a week. The first batch of families left on Monday on buses and trucks accompanied by Syrian Arab Red Crescent vehicles and ambulances, heading to nearby Daraa. The government plans to evacuate 1,500 people.
According to Mohamed Vall, “At least 500 people have already left on 10 buses this morning, and more are expected to exit Suwayda in the next few hours.” Some Bedouin families are evacuating the province voluntarily, feeling threatened by the ongoing violence. Vall noted that “there are seven districts of Suwayda that are inhabited partly or mostly by Arab Bedouins, and they are all under threat – or they feel under threat – and some of them are willing to leave [on their own]”.
The clashes between the Druze minority and Bedouin clans, which began on July 13, have killed nearly 260 people and displaced 128,571 others, according to the United Nations International Organisation for Migration. Syrian Interior Minister Ahmad al-Dalati told the SANA news agency that the evacuation process will also allow displaced civilians from Suwayda to return as efforts for a complete ceasefire are underway.
“We have imposed a security cordon in the vicinity of Suwayda to keep it secure and to stop the fighting there,” al-Dalati said. “This will preserve the path that will lead to reconciliation and stability in the province.” The ceasefire, agreed upon on Saturday, stipulates that Bedouin fighters will release Druze women they are holding captive and leave the province.
The United Kingdom-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor reported that after talks for a captives swap fell through late on Sunday, there were claims of Israeli air strikes and helicopters over villages where skirmishes took place between the Bedouins and the Druze.
However, the Israeli military said it was “not aware” of any overnight strikes in Syria. Israel has intervened in the conflict, launching air attacks on Syria’s Ministry of Defence buildings in Damascus and hitting Syrian government forces in Suwayda province, claiming it was protecting the Druze, whom it calls its “brothers”.
An initial Syrian Arab Red Crescent convoy entered Suwayda on Sunday, carrying UN humanitarian assistance, including food, water, medical supplies, and fuel. Interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has tried to appeal to the Druze community while condemning the factions loyal to spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, who have been involved in the clashes. He promised to hold accountable perpetrators of targeted attacks and other violations.