A tentative ceasefire is currently in effect in Syria’s southern Suweida province following a week of intense sectarian violence between the Druze minority and Bedouin tribal fighters that has claimed the lives of over 1,000 people. Despite a relative calm, the situation remains volatile, and fears of renewed bloodshed persist.

Close to the Conflict

The BBC team traveled to within six miles of Suweida city—deemed the closest safe distance—where Syrian army officials warned of active Druze snipers still operating ahead. Along the journey, signs of battle were everywhere: burned-out shops, abandoned villages, and pavement strewn with shell casings.

Young Syrian soldiers, dressed in black and clutching rifles, were seen resting in small groups. Nearby, heavily armed government forces manned checkpoints and roadblocks.

The Syrian army was deployed just four days ago to enforce a ceasefire aimed at halting the bloodshed between Druze militias and Bedouin tribes, which escalated into one of the deadliest episodes in the region since Syria’s uprising began.

Tense Truce, Fragile Trust

While the ceasefire has largely held, the truce is extremely fragile. On the roadside south of Suweida, the BBC encountered hundreds of armed Bedouin fighters, some firing into the air in defiance. Wearing red and white headscarves, they made it clear: if the ceasefire collapses, they are ready to fight again.

They demanded the release of wounded Bedouins still inside Suweida, referring to them as hostages.

“If the Druze don’t honor the agreement, we’ll return to Suweida—even if it means dying there,” one Bedouin leader told the BBC.

Meanwhile, Druze factions have accused Syrian forces of siding with the Bedouin and committing abuses, including summary executions—claims that remain unverified.

“Beyond Imagination”

At a hospital in Deraa, the BBC witnessed the arrival of wounded individuals evacuated from Suweida by the Syrian Red Crescent. Among them was 27-year-old Ahmed, a soldier with shrapnel wounds from a rocket-propelled grenade. Still in uniform and on crutches, he described horrific scenes upon entering the city:

“Houses were burned down. Children’s bodies were burned. Some had been decapitated,” he claimed.
Note: The BBC has not independently verified these allegations.

Outside the hospital, Riham Bermawi, a Red Crescent coordinator, described the humanitarian crisis as “catastrophic.” Medical supplies are running low, and sniper fire has made further evacuations dangerous.

“Too many need surgery. There’s a shortage of everything,” she said.

Political Turmoil and Glimmers of Hope

This week’s violence marks the worst sectarian unrest since the rise of Islamist leader Ahmed al-Sharaa last year, following the collapse of the Assad regime.

At a shelter for displaced families, Raed al-Saleh, Syria’s disaster management minister, called for unity and reconciliation.

“We face many challenges, but we also have hope. Our communities have wise leaders. I believe we can overcome this phase and build peace and justice.”

Still, on the road to Suweida, hope is hard to see. Tensions remain high, trust is thin, and the scars of conflict—both physical and emotional—run deep. Whether the ceasefire will hold or collapse into further chaos remains uncertain.