Thousands of jihadists are advancing toward Suwayda to fight the Druze militias in Syria

The Syrian province of Sweida has become the epicenter of a new escalation of sectarian violence, which appears to have worsened following the withdrawal of regime troops of Ahmed al-Sharaa, after agreeing to a ceasefire with Druze factions and Israel.

In recent hours, thousands of fighters from Bedouin Arab tribes, many of them Islamic extremists, have begun mobilizing toward the south of the country, in what is shaping up to be a massive offensive against the Druze, who are currently responsible for local security and are engaged in fierce fighting with the Bedouins in the area.

According to various local and international sources, more than 10,000 armed men from tribal clans in the provinces of Hama, Homs, Deir ez-Zor, and the outskirts of Damascus have entered, or are on their way to enter, Sweida through at least two main corridors. If this number is confirmed, it would be one of the largest tribal mobilizations in Syria since the start of the civil war more than a decade ago.

“We came to save our people. The crimes committed by the Druze will not go unpunished. We will liberate Sweida with our own hands” threatened one of the tribal leaders who arrived from the north, in statements collected by Syrian media. These events have raised alarms in the international community, as there are fears of an open sectarian war between Druze and Sunni Arab communities.

The escalation in clashes began after the official withdrawal of the Syrian Army from the province, which was agreed upon in a ceasefire deal brokered by international actors, including the United States and other Arab countries. Under that understanding, regime security forces handed over territorial control to Druze religious authorities and their local militias, with the aim of maintaining internal peace.

However, the situation deteriorated rapidly when tribal militias took advantage of the power vacuum and began capturing communities, sparking violent clashes with Druze factions. Humanitarian organizations report more than 600 dead and more than 80,000 displaced since the start of the clashes five days ago.

Tension continues to rise and analysts fear that the massive incursion of tribal and jihadist forces will not only cause a massacre in Sweida, but also mark the beginning of a new cycle of civil war with a strong sectarian component, something Syria has not managed to overcome since the outbreaks of 2011.