Deadly sectarian clashes have erupted in southern Syria, leaving at least 30 people dead and many more injured, as tensions between minority groups continue to destabilize the country.

Violence broke out in the city of Sweida between Sunni Bedouin tribes and fighters from the Druze religious minority. Syrian security forces were swiftly deployed to the region in an effort to bring the situation under control.

According to the Syrian interior ministry, 30 people were confirmed dead, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an independent war monitor, reported a higher death toll of 37. Over 100 people are believed to have been injured in the unrest.

The clashes come amid increasing instability following the fall of the Assad regime in December. Since then, a new Islamic-led administration has struggled to restore order across a fragmented and volatile Syria.

In late 2024, the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) launched a dramatic offensive on Damascus, overthrowing President Bashar al-Assad after more than five decades of family rule. The transition has deepened tensions among Syria’s religious and ethnic minorities.

Sweida’s governor, Mustapha al-Bakur, has urged residents to remain calm and support national efforts for reform. Religious leaders across communities have echoed calls for restraint.

The Druze, a small offshoot sect of Shia Islam, have historically remained neutral in Syria’s prolonged civil war, hoping the state would provide protection. However, members of the community now express fears of marginalization and insecurity under the new government.

Recent months have also seen deadly violence targeting other minorities, including members of the Alawite community and Christian worshippers in Damascus.

Meanwhile, international diplomatic moves signal a shift in how Syria is being approached. The United States recently removed HTS from its list of foreign terrorist organizations, and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy made a landmark visit to Syria — the first by a British minister since the civil war began 14 years ago.

As Syria faces a precarious future, the latest surge in violence highlights the deep sectarian divides and the challenge of national reconciliation.