At least 356 people have been killed in armed clashes between forces of the transitional government and Druze self-defense units in Syria's As-Suwayda province, according to Sky News Arabia.
The broadcaster reports that among the dead are 55 civilians and 79 self-defense fighters. Special forces from the Interior Ministry and Defense Ministry, sent from Damascus to restore stability, lost 189 personnel, while pro-government Arab tribal formations lost 18 militia members. Another 15 internal security officers were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Damascus on July 16.
Earlier, Syria's Defense Ministry announced the withdrawal of all military forces from the city of As-Suwayda, where most residents are Druze, in accordance with a reached ceasefire agreement. A ministry statement said "troops are leaving As-Suwayda after completing operations to clear the city of illegal armed groups, with police forces taking over control."
Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Yousef Jarbou welcomed the agreement to completely cease hostilities. "We have contacted the government in Damascus and confirmed our commitment to national sovereignty," the sheikh posted on X. "Government institutions will be restored in all areas of As-Suwayda in accordance with Syrian laws and regulations."
Tensions in southern Syria escalated on July 13 when clashes broke out in As-Suwayda province between Arab tribal militias and Druze self-defense units. On July 15, the Syrian army entered the provincial capital of the same name and began clearing operations to stabilize the situation. Shortly afterward, Israel began striking Syrian military convoys, claiming this was to protect the Druze population of the province, and on July 16 launched attacks on several strategic targets in the Syrian capital.
The Druze are a distinct Arabic-speaking ethnoreligious group living in Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Jordan. Syria has about 700,000 Druze, making them the third largest religious-ethnic minority after Kurds and Alawites.
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Based on materials from TASS