Druze National Guard says Syrian Defense forces attacked Sweida sites

The self-proclaimed Druze National Guard forces in Sweida announced on Monday that several of their positions on the city’s western axis came under attack by military factions affiliated with Syria’s interim Defense Ministry. The targeted sites included Tel Hadid, the industrial road, and the Knakker area, according to a statement issued by the force’s command.

The statement claimed the assaults involved the use of random mortar shells and drones, describing the operation as an attempt to undermine stability and create confusion across frontline positions. Commanders said their forces responded with “appropriate means,” suppressing hostile fire and regaining full control over the battlefield situation.

The self-proclaimed National Guard stressed that all axes remain under its full authority and that its units are maintaining high combat readiness. The force said it is capable of deterring and decisively countering any threat to ensure the security of Jabal al-Arab and the stability of its residents.

Sweida province, in southern Syria, has witnessed recurring instability. In July, clashes erupted between armed Druze fighters and Bedouin tribal groups backed by the transitional government in Damascus. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, those confrontations resulted in the deaths of 2,026 people through field executions, Israeli strikes, and other forms of armed violence.

UN says grave violations committed in Sweida
The UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria reported in October that it had documented a large number of violations and abuses in Syria’s southern Sweida governorate.

The commission stated that it had heard “horrifying testimonies from residents about the violations committed against civilians in Sweida.”

It also noted that “many of the acts were carried out in a brutal and inhumane manner,” adding that “investigations are ongoing to ensure accountability and uncover the truth about what is happening in Sweida and other areas.”

In a statement published on Tuesday, the Commission stated that while it heard members of all communities tell horrific stories of brutalities committed against them, there were also many stories reflecting good neighborly relations and aspirations for peace and stability.

It noted that it will be raising preliminary recommendations to parties concerned with addressing the current human rights violations, including displacement, especially as winter approaches.

Sweida under fire
The governorate of Sweida witnessed clashes last July between armed Druze fighters and Bedouin tribal forces backed by the transitional government forces in Damascus, which led to the deaths of 2,026 people from field executions, Israeli airstrikes, and other forms of armed violence, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Despite this, arbitrary killings and attacks continue, with the most recent taking place on October 28, when armed gunmen attacked a passenger bus near the Marjanah station on the Sweida-Damascus road, killing two people and wounding 11 others.

On October 25, Syrian sources reported that factions aligned with the Ministry of Defense stationed in the village of Walgha targeted armed groups in Sweida city with heavy weapons. Sources in Sweida added that local forces were responding to movements by these factions along the Atil–Walgha axis.

Living conditions also reached catastrophic levels in Sweida on October 4, as public bakeries in the governorate halted operations due to a lack of flour, leaving residents dependent on limited bread supplies from a small number of private bakeries, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.