Southern Syria clashes (July–September 2025)

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. Due to the hundreds of Druze civilians killed, the initial phase of the violence is commemorated among the Druze people of Suwayda as Black July.

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.