Following a week of deadly tribal violence between Druze and Bedouin groups in Suweida, a ceasefire has been declared, restoring a fragile peace amid ongoing humanitarian challenges, including critical medical shortages.**
Cautious Calm Returns to Suweida Amid Continued Humanitarian Crisis**
Cautious Calm Returns to Suweida Amid Continued Humanitarian Crisis**
After a week of violent tribal clashes in Suweida, Syria, a ceasefire has been announced, but medical shortages and a tense atmosphere persist.**
A tentative tranquility has settled over the Syrian city of Suweida following a tumultuous week marked by violent tribal skirmishes, which saw the confrontation between Druze fighters, Bedouin gunmen, and government forces. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that hostilities subsided on Sunday after the Syrian president announced a ceasefire on Saturday. This declaration, however, followed days of intense fighting that resulted in over 1,000 fatalities, leaving the community with a dire scarcity of medical supplies.
Witnesses indicated that from Sunday morning onwards, the city experienced "cautious calm." SOHR noted the withdrawal of Bedouin fighters from the predominantly Druze city, although tensions remain palpable. In response to the conflict, security forces imposed restrictions on road access to Suweida, erecting barriers while allowing only ambulances to pass through.
The clashes erupted following the abduction of a Druze merchant, quickly spiraling into sectarian violence between the Druze and Bedouin tribes, with both sides accused of committing atrocities. On Saturday, in an effort to curtail the violence, Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa dispatched military forces to the region. Reports surfaced that local Druze fighters managed to push Bedouins from portions of the city. However, violence reportedly persisted in surrounding areas.
On the humanitarian front, SOHR highlighted deteriorating conditions in Suweida, where hospitals struggle to cope with the influx of casualties and a lack of essential medical supplies. A resident lamented the urgent need for aid, stating, "The smell of corpses is spread throughout the national hospital." Local healthcare professionals expressed grave concern, describing hospitals as "a disaster and out of service" due to the overwhelming challenges. Despite brief pauses in fighting, the local healthcare system remains in critical need of support to address the ongoing crisis.
