Southern Syria protests (2023–24)

On 17 August 2023, popular protests driven by escalating economic hardships erupted in the Druze-majority city of As-Suwayda, initially drawing hundreds of participants. The protests quickly expanded in scope and intensity, and by 20 August thousands of protesters were chanting slogans demanding the fall of the authoritarian Assad government, invoking memories of the Arab Spring. By 24 August, the protests had spread to the city of Daraa.

Triggered by a government decision earlier in the month to slash fuel subsidies, which more than doubled the cost of gasoline, the protests symbolized a boiling point of over a decade of accumulated grievances. These included government violence, deteriorating living standards, and a political stalemate that had left the war unresolved.

In response to widespread demonstrations, the Assad government, known for harshly suppressing dissent, faced a particularly delicate situation in As-Suwayda. Since 2011, this Druze-majority region avoided participation in armed conflict, choosing instead to abstain from sending young men to mandatory military service and to act as a refuge for those fleeing the government's oppression. Their clear stance against extremist Islamic groups and the Druzes' global reputation for social and cultural openness challenged the regime's narrative of 'confronting terrorism and protecting minorities.' Tensions in Sweida escalated dramatically on 28 February 2024 when a man died from gunshot wounds inflicted by the Syrian Armed Forces during a protest. This incident significantly heightened community participation and intensified the demonstrations, with protesters emphatically demanding the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2254, marking a pivotal shift in the community's stance towards the government.