Druze gunmen, Syrian government forces clash in Suwayda: What to know
The United Nations recently said that the government has thus far failed to bring calm to the area of southern Syria following sectarian clashes last year.
Clashes erupted between Druze gunmen and Syrian government forces west of the city of Suwayda on Monday amid ongoing tensions between Damascus and armed factions in the country’s south.
What happened: Local media reported that the clashes took place near Tel Hadid, located about 7 kilometers (4 miles) west of Suwayda. Gunmen from government forces and from the Druze armed group, the National Guard, both fired toward civilian homes in the area during the fighting, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
اشتباكات بين قوى الأمن الداخلي و "الحرس الوطني" بمنطقة“تل الحديد” بريف محافظة #السويداء. pic.twitter.com/2mB4W3s3HV
— التلفزيون العربي - سوريا (@AlarabyTvSY) June 29, 2026
There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Why it matters: Suwayda has experienced considerable instability since the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad in late 2024 and the subsequent emergence of the transitional government, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former jihadist rebel commander and the new president. A number of clashes have occurred in the area this month, including:
