Southern Syria clashes (July 2025–present)

Southern Syria clashes
	Part of the aftermath of the Syrian civil war, Druze insurgency in Southern Syria and the Israeli invasion of Syria
	; Military situation as of 19 February 2026 Syrian transitional government Druze factions Israeli occupation and invasion
Date	13 July 2025 – present; (8 months and 1 day)
Location	Suwayda, Daraa, and Rif Dimashq Governorates, southern Syria
Status	Ceasefire The Syrian Army is deployed to Suwayda from 14–16 July; withdrawn after ceasefire agreement; Israel conducts multiple airstrikes on Syria, including on Damascus; Massacres of local Druze by government forces; massacres of local Bedouins by Druze militants after government forces withdraw;
Belligerents
Supreme Legal Committee in Suwayda (from July 2025); Anti-government Druze armed groups; Israel	Syria; Pro-government Druze armed groups; Bedouin tribes Islamic State
Commanders and leaders
Hikmat al-Hijri; Tareq al-Shoufi; Shakib Ajwad Nasr; Shadi Fayez Murshid; Jihad Ghoutani; Firas Hamayil †; Benjamin Netanyahu; Israel Katz	Ahmed al-Sharaa; Murhaf Abu Qasra; Ali Noureddine al-Naasan; Anas Khattab; Ahmed al-Dalati; Suleiman Abdul Baqi; Abdul Moneim al-Naseef; Sheikh Rakan Al-Khudair Abu Hudhayfah
Units involved
Supreme Legal Committee in Suwayda National Guard Suwayda Military Council; Sheikh al-Karama Forces; Al-Jabal Brigade; Men of Dignity; ; Internal security forces; ; Israel Defense Forces Israeli Air Force; ;	Syrian Armed Forces Syrian Army 62nd Division; 72nd Division; 12th Brigade; 107th Brigade; Military Police; ; ; Ministry of Interior General Security Service; ; Ahrar Jabal al-Arab; Guest House of Dignity; Syrian Council of Tribes and Clans; Southern Tribes Gathering; Anizah; Bani Khalid; Al-Bu Nasir; Mawali; Nu'aym; Shammar; Al-Uqaydat Al-Busraya; Al-Shaitat; ; Tribes of Lajat; Military of the Islamic State
Casualties and losses
569 fighters killed; A number of Israeli Druze who crossed the ceasefire line fence were arrested in Daraa	451 soldiers and policemen killed; Several tanks and drones damaged or destroyed; 41 Bedouins killed
	167 civilians killed in the fighting; 828 civilians killed in extrajudicial executions; 192,000+ civilians displaced

On 13 July 2025, fighting began between Druze and Bedouin armed groups in the city of Suwayda and its surrounding villages in southern Syria. The Syrian transitional government deployed the Armed Forces to the area to restore order between 14 and 16 July. A ceasefire agreement was reached between Druze leaders and the government on 15 July, but one of the Druze leaders, Hikmat al-Hijri, called for armed resistance against the government and Bedouin groups. The other two Druze leaders, Hammoud al-Hinnawi and Youssef Jarbou, initially cooperated with government calls for a ceasefire, but later issued statements expressing opposition to the government. Extrajudicial killings and abuse of both Druze and Bedouin civilians were reported as a result of the clashes.

Israel launched airstrikes targeting Syrian government forces and Bedouin fighters with the stated goal of defending the Druze. Israel had recently invaded deeper into southwestern Syria and had been demanding the Syrian military stay out of the region. Syria's foreign ministry accused Israel of inflaming sectarian tensions to undermine the new Syrian government. Another ceasefire agreement was reached on 16 July, and the Syrian Armed Forces sided with the Bedouins before withdrawing from Suwayda. Following the withdrawal, Druze groups reportedly committed massacres against local Bedouin tribes, leading to a mass exodus to the neighboring Daraa Governorate. Up to 50,000 Bedouins from 41 tribes reportedly mobilized to Suwayda in response to the reports. Rumours of another Bedouin attack on Suwayda prompted a mass exodus of Druze residents on 17 July. Reports of abuse of Druze civilians have since resumed. Various Druze from Israel stated that they would participate in the fighting if attacks continued. Government forces re-entered Suwayda on 19 July in response to growing violence between the two groups. The clashes are an escalation of the Druze insurgency in Southern Syria, which is considered a part of the aftermath of the Syrian civil war.