Massacre and mayhem in Sweida as Israel strikes deepen Syrian crisis

DAMASCUS, Syria (MNTV) — Southern Syria is reeling from a wave of violence and bloodshed, as the province of Sweida witnesses escalating clashes, reported massacres, and a series of deadly Israeli airstrikes.

The conflict, described by observers as one of the bloodiest episodes in the region in years, has left more than 500 people dead, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Syria’s state media accused Israeli-backed Druze militias of committing atrocities in the al-Maqous neighborhood of Sweida after government forces abruptly withdrew on Thursday.

The official SANA agency reported that women and children were among those massacred, with several field executions carried out. Graphic images circulating online, though unverified, appear to show multiple civilian bodies lying on the ground.

The violence erupted following clashes between Druze militias, Arab Bedouin tribes. Syrian government forces stepped in to prevent fighting, which was opposed by Israel.

The situation deteriorated further when Israeli warplanes launched airstrikes across southern Syria, hitting government positions and critical infrastructure.

At least 15 Syrian personnel were reportedly killed in those attacks.

The SOHR said among the dead were 79 Druze fighters, 154 civilians — 243 government personnel, and 18 Bedouin fighters.

In retaliation, Druze forces are accused of executing three Bedouins.

On Wednesday, Israeli airstrikes targeted military installations, including the presidential compound, Defense Ministry, and General Staff Headquarters in Damascus.

The Israeli government claimed the strikes aimed to protect the Druze minority in Syria. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that a ceasefire in Sweida was “obtained by force.”

Syrian Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, in a nationally televised address, condemned the Israeli intervention and reaffirmed the country’s unity.

“Israel seeks to dissolve the unity of our people and weaken our reconstruction efforts,” he said. He vowed to hold accountable those responsible for harming Syria’s Druze population, calling the community “a fundamental part of the fabric of this nation.”

Meanwhile, tensions have spread beyond Sweida.

The Hikmat al-Hajri group, fighting against the Syrian government, called for an open corridor to northeastern Syria, currently under the control of Kurdish PKK/YPG forces, and urged Jordan’s King Abdullah II to open border crossings for aid.

The PKK/YPG — operating under the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) umbrella — held rallies in Hasakah in solidarity with Sweida’s fighters and is reportedly preparing to send “humanitarian aid” convoys to the region.

The group also clashed with Syrian forces near Dayr Hafir, east of Aleppo, further straining an already fractured front.

In a rare diplomatic exchange, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a phone call with President al-Sharaa, condemning Israel’s attacks as “unacceptable.” Erdoğan warned that Israel’s actions threaten regional stability and expressed support for Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Damascus welcomed Türkiye’s stance, expressing gratitude for Ankara’s “principled position.”

Though a ceasefire was briefly restored on July 16 between the Syrian government and local militias in Sweida, Israeli airstrikes continued to pound targets in Damascus and Daraa the same day. With Syrian forces having largely withdrawn from the province, the security vacuum has left civilians vulnerable to militia violence, tribal reprisals, and foreign attacks.

The humanitarian situation remains dire, with aid convoys reportedly being blocked or bombed. Observers warn that without international mediation, Sweida’s descent into chaos could become a wider regional flashpoint.

As Israel expands its operational reach and militias assert local control, Syria finds itself caught between fragmentation, foreign intervention, and the ongoing cost of a brutal war.