Suwayda, southwest Syria – Heavy clashes broke out this morning between Syrian internal security forces and local armed factions in the western countryside of Suwayda, southern Syria.
According to the local outlet Al-Rased, fighting intensified around the town of Thaala after local factions claimed control of Tal Hadeed. The violence follows a military offensive launched by the Ministry of Defense and the Internal Security Forces targeting the area.
Simultaneous confrontations were reported near the village of Dibin, as dozens of tribal fighters gathered earlier in the day at the Khirbet Samar area between the villages of Kanaker, Rassas, and Ara. The fighters reportedly fired mortar rounds and anti-aircraft weapons toward Ara, prompting retaliatory fire from local factions and escalating clashes across multiple fronts, including Tal Hadeed and surrounding villages.
Mid-July witnessed a major offensive by Syrian defence and interior forces in Suwayda, sparking intense battles with local Druze militias and drawing Israeli airstrikes. The escalation resulted in numerous casualties and injuries.
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After the clashes, tribal groups loyal to Syrian government launched attacks on the province, but a ceasefire agreement was later brokered with U.S. and Jordanian mediation.
A report released by the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) on July 24 documented over 1,700 casualties in Suwayda since July 13, including 814 fatalities, among them 34 women and 20 children. Six medical personnel (including three women) and two media workers were also killed, alongside 903 people wounded.
The SNHR emphasized that these figures are preliminary and subject to continuous updates. The report noted that victims include civilians, local faction fighters, tribal gunmen, and members of the internal security and defense ministries.
