Chareh withdraws troops from Sweida as the city tallies its dead

Thursday 17 July 2025 - 16:22

Interim President Ahmad al‑Chareh ordered Syrian government forces to withdraw from Druze-majority Sweida overnight, ending days of heavy fighting amid rising tensions with Israel, he said in a televised address. In his message, al‑Chareh transferred responsibility for local security to Druze religious leaders and community groups, emphasizing the aim to prevent “open war” with Israel.

The city is now reckoning with heavy losses after fierce clashes among Druze militias, Sunni Bedouin tribes, and government forces, which reportedly killed over 200 combatants and dozens of civilians since Sunday. AFP correspondents spotted at least 15 bodies in central Sweida, both civilian and combatant, with morgues overwhelmed and families in distress . One local doctor likened the scene to a natural disaster, highlighting the scale of devastation.

The escalation began with fighting between Druze and Bedouin factions, which triggered a government deployment that fueled local resentment over alleged abuses by pro-regime forces. Israel entered the crisis by striking Syrian military assets near Damascas and southern Syria, stating its intention to protect the Druze minority and to push Syrian forces out of the border area.

A fragile ceasefire has since been negotiated with U.S., Turkish, and Arab mediation, enabling the Syrian army's phased retreat and handing over of local security to Druze authorities. The announcement followed intense cross-border Druze movements, with hundreds entering Israel from Majdal Shams—some re-crossing later—during the height of violence.

Al‑Chareh pledged justice for Druze civilians, vowing to hold perpetrators of “extrajudicial executions” accountable . Meanwhile, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the temporary ceasefire had emerged “by force” after the strikes .