Armed clashes between Druss and Beduine tribes They started on Sunday. The government of To Sharaa sent troops to contain the situation, but the Druss They denounced abuse by the forces of the regime.
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Tuesday, Israel decided to intervene militarily to protect the Druss and hit the government forces. The next day, the Army Headquarters bombed in Damascus.
Columns of smoke after Israeli attacks near the headquarters of the Syrian army and the Ministry of Defense in Damascus on July 16, 2025. (PHOTO OF RAMI AL SAYED / AFP).
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According to the OSDH, 79 combatants died since Sunday Druss and 154 civilians from Sweidaincluding 83 people “who were executed by members of the Ministries of Defense and Interior” of Syria. Government personnel and combatants also died Bedouins. In addition, there were 15 dead in Israeli air attacks to the headquarters of the Syrian army.
The president of Syria Ahmed al Sharaa speaking in Damascus on March 9, 2025. (Photo of the Syrian / AFP Presidency).
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Thursday, the president Ahmed al Sharaa communicated to the country that ordered to remove the troops from Sweida to avoid an “open war” with Israel. He argued that he delegated the task of maintaining security in that province in the Druzos.
Why did Drusos face Beduinos?
Syrian Druss fighters celebrate the withdrawal of the Syrian government forces of the Sweid South Government, on July 17, 2025. (Photo by Shadi al-Dubaisi / AFP).
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According to the OSDH, the clashes began on Sunday after members of a Beduine tribe established a control post in Sweidawhere they attacked and stole a vegetable merchant druse.
This situation resulted in attacks and kidnappings between the Beduine tribes and armed groups Druzos.
The President Ahmed al Sharaa deployed security forces in Sweida To restore order, but these They were accused by the drusites of putting the side of the Bedouins and perpetrating abuse.
Videos circulated on social networks where Government forces are seen burning and looting civilian houses and humiliate men Druss By shaving the beard.
Who are the drusos?
Shadi Abu Zaid (C), a Syrian Druso man, is received by members of the Drusa community upon his arrival at the Majdal Shams Drusa village in Los Altos del Golán annexed by Israel, on July 16, 2025. (Jalaa Marey / AFP).
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The Druss They are a minority religious community of the Middle East that emerged at the beginning of the 11th century as a Ismaili Islam Scision. His faith is esoteric and syncretic: mixes elements of Islam, Christianity, Gnosticism and Greek philosophy, among others. They do not accept conversions and their beliefs are reserved for an internal circle of initiates, which has reinforced its cohesion and survival over time.
The spiritual founder of this current was Hamza Ibn Alia Persian Ismaili missionary of the eleventh century, who preached in Cairo during the reign of the Caliph Fatimí al-Hakim Bi-Amr Allahto whom the Drusos consider a divine figure.
In the world there are 1.5 million Drusos. They are distributed mainly in four countries: Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Jordan.
In Syriawhere some 700,000 druse live, they are concentrated mainly in the mountainous region of Jabal al-Druze (The mountain of the Druss), around the city of Sweidato the south of the country.
In it Lebanon There are 300,000 druzos that inhabit Mount Lebanon, especially in the Chouf and Aley areas.
Throughout Israelincluding annexed Golán highthere are about 150,000 drusos. Druss are the only Arab group of Israel subject to mandatory military service.
While in Jordan About 30,000 Drusos live.
Ethnic and religious distribution in Syria. (AFP).
Druss have their own flag. It is formed by five horizontal strips of red, green, yellow, blue and white colors, in addition to a green triangle in the asta. Sometimes, it is also represented with the shape of a five -pointed star with the same colors. Each color has a different meaning in relation to Drusa faith and its beliefs.
The History of the Druss It is marked by persecution and resistance. For centuries they have sought refuge in mountainous regions to escape reprisals from Sunitas and Shiites. His struggle for autonomy dates back to episodes such as the great revolt of 1925 in Syriaheaded by leader Druso Sultan Al-Atrash against the French mandate.
In Syriathe Druss They have had an ambiguous political role. Although at first many supported the regime of Hafez al-Assad And then to Bashar al-Assadlooking for protection as a minority, others distanced themselves over time.
During the Syrian Civil War that began in 2011, the Druss They did not align in mass with the rebels. On the contrary, some groups Druss They opted for a position neutral or of Self -defenseonly a few joined the opposition, while others aligned with the regime of Bashar al Assad.
The latter fought at some point against Jabhat al Nusrathe jihadist group of the current Syrian president, when they approached Sweida.
What currently happens in Sweida reflects the growing will to self -government or a greater autonomy by the Druss.
In Israel, the Drusos constitute a particular minority. Unlike other Arab citizens, Yes do mandatory military service And they have reached important positions in the Armed Forces, the Government and the Police.
However, they have also expressed criticism of the Israeli State, especially after the approval of the Jewish state law In 2018, that many Druss They considered discriminatory. Most identify as Israelí-Drussos, but retain a very strong community identity.
Israel’s role
Members of the Drusa community manifest themselves to the Israeli forces next to the spike wire fence that separates the Golán highs, annexed by Israel, from Syria, on July 16, 2025. (Photo by Jalaa Marey / AFP).
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The international analyst Francesco Tucci He said to Commerce that the situation in Syria It is far from reaching stability, after the triumph in the civil war of the faction that was a jihadist headed by Ahmed al Sharaa. They overthrew a Bashar al Assadan ally of Iran, on December 14, 2024. “Now the accountability is being given between several groups.”
“These groups of Bedouins who are attacking the Druss They have the support of the Syrian government “he remarked.
“On the one hand, Israel has interest because a Drusa minority is in the Golán high ones,” Tucci said.
The analyst said that with the defense of the Druzos Israel also seeks to encourage separatism in Syriakeep internal tensions between the factions.
“Israel does not suit Syria A government of exyihadistas is strengthened, whose current control of the country is still precarious ”he said.
“So, What Israel does is a way to stabilize to destabilize. Wants to limit the government of To Sharaaput red lines and weaken it when necessary. That is why the Army Headquarters has attacked“He continued.
“That is why this attack makes sense. It is rather interesting to see how the international community practically says nothing about the very aggressive behavior of Israel. The same was with the 12 -day war with Iran. He has previously bombarded the hutis in Yemen, ”he added.
Tucci stressed that The Government of Al Sharaa currently has no chance to face Israel militarily.
He emphasized that Nor does it have total control of the Syrian territoryand indicated that the basics for a State to be strengthened is precisely to ensure territorial control.
