After the Atrocities: Bedouin Tribes Withdraw from Sweida, Ceasefire Declared
Following a brutal week of fighting marked by abductions, massacres, and pogroms against Syria’s Druze community, a ceasefire has now been declared between the Bedouin tribes and the Druze. This comes days after a separate ceasefire was reached between the Druze and the Assad regime.
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A relatively quiet night passed over the Druze towns of southern Syria, after Bedouin tribes aligned with the Assad regime and Sunni jihadist factions retreated from Druze-populated areas.
Earlier this week, a ceasefire was reached between the Druze and the regime, but excluded the Bedouin factions, who re-entered the area and carried out horrific acts, including massacres and pogroms. Last night, those tribes—linked to jihadist leader Abu Mohammad al-Julani—announced their withdrawal.
According to reports, their retreat came after Syrian regime forces entered the Druze stronghold of Jabal al-Druze allegedly with Israeli approval to restore order.
The Druze community claimed they had pushed back the Bedouin attackers through fierce battles. The Sunni militias affiliated with the regime then declared their participation in the ceasefire:
“We have withdrawn all fighters from Sweida. The evacuation was conducted in accordance with the ceasefire agreement. Any violation of the deal will be met with a harsh response from the tribes,” read their statement.
Just last Friday, Bedouin leaders vowed not to retreat until they had regained full control over the region. In the following days, they carried out atrocities, including public humiliation, looting, and the abduction of women and children.
Footage released last week by local and international media showed the tribes withdrawing with spoils of war—including tractors, furniture, livestock, and human captives—seized in accordance with Sharia law.
Now, the region appears to be stabilizing, while Israel continues to monitor the situation from a distance amid ongoing volatility.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a strong condemnation of the regime’s conduct and its affiliated militias:
“The United States is deeply concerned about the horrific and dangerous developments. Rape and slaughter of innocent civilians are still occurring and must be stopped,” Rubio said.
He emphasized that:
“If the Damascus authorities hope to preserve any chance for a unified, inclusive, and peaceful Syria—free from ISIS and Iranian control—they must use their security forces to end this disaster and bring all perpetrators to justice, including those within their own ranks. The fighting between Druze and Bedouin groups must stop immediately.”