AMMAN/BEIRUT – Heavy fighting has once again broken out in the southern Syrian province of Sweida, shattering a fragile ceasefire and resulting in a significant number of casualties, according to local sources and war monitors.
Renewed, intense clashes reportedly erupted between local armed factions and forces aligned with the Syrian government, marking a severe escalation in a region that had been under a precarious truce. Reports from the ground describe the use of heavy machine guns and mortars in several towns across the province, turning residential areas into battlegrounds.
The breakdown of the ceasefire has led to tragic consequences, with numerous people reported killed and wounded. The exact number of casualties is still being confirmed, but sources indicate that both combatants and civilians are among the victims.
Sweida province has maintained a unique and often tense status throughout the Syrian conflict, with its Druze-majority population largely resisting both government and opposition control. The recent violence underscores the continued volatility in southern Syria and the immense difficulty in sustaining peace agreements.
International observers are expressing deep concern over the escalating violence, fearing it could destabilize the entire southern region and lead to a new wave of displacement and humanitarian suffering. Calls are mounting for an immediate cessation of hostilities and for all parties to respect the ceasefire agreement to prevent further loss of life.
