The southern Syrian province of Al-Suwayda is witnessing a humanitarian crisis. The Druze community, a religious and ethnic minority, is under siege. Over the past week, more than 940 people have been killed, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Druze Voices: “We Are Being Exterminated”
In a chilling statement to NDTV, Majd Al-Shaer, a 21-year-old Druze man, said, “This is not a conflict anymore; this is extermination.” His account of women and children being killed, elders humiliated, and cultural symbols destroyed paints a horrifying picture.
He describes what many now call an ethnic cleansing campaign by government forces and allied Sunni militias. Acts like shaving off the moustaches of elderly Druze men — a cultural insult — are being used as tools of psychological warfare.
Violence began when Sunni fighters assaulted a Druze vegetable vendor. Retaliations followed, and soon, a spiral of tit-for-tat abductions and killings consumed Suwayda. What started as a local scuffle exploded into a full-blown sectarian war.
“It started with beatings and ended with massacres,” Al-Shaer told NDTV. “Sunnis insulted Druze prisoners, and the government joined the attack.”
Breakdown of Casualties
The week’s death toll includes:
- 326 Druze fighters
- 262 Druze civilians (including 165 executed)
- 312 government forces
- 21 Bedouins, including 3 allegedly executed by Druze
Public executions and violent detentions continue despite ceasefire announcements.
The Rise of a New Regime
The situation worsened following the collapse of the Assad regime in late 2024. His replacement, Ahmad al-Sharaa — once known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani of terror outfit HTS — has raised red flags among minorities. The Druze see his rule as a direct threat to their existence.
“Al-Sharaa’s government is now attacking us,” said Al-Shaer. The former militant leader now commands the Syrian state, with many fearing he’s continuing extremist agendas under a new banner.
Suwayda Military Council and Resistance
In March, Druze factions formed the Suwayda Military Council led by Tareq al-Shoufi. The Council’s goal: protect civilians, defend territory, and promote secular democracy.
Yet, it faces internal dissent. Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri, the Druze spiritual leader, has labeled the council a separatist force, complicating the community’s response to the crisis.
Israel, US, and Regional Diplomacy
In response to reports of atrocities, Israel launched airstrikes on Syrian government positions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to protect Druze civilians, calling for “full demilitarisation” of southern Syria.
International Outrage and Pleas
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the violence. “The rape and slaughter must end,” he said. He demanded Syrian authorities prevent jihadists from entering the region and punish those guilty of war crimes — including government troops.
Despite the ceasefire, mortar shelling and looting persist.Israeli sources confirmed that Syria deployed troops into Suwayda for 48 hours to “clear” Bedouin fighters.
Displacement and Despair
The UN estimates over 87,000 people have been displaced in recent days. For the Druze, the crisis is not just a war — it’s a battle for survival, culture, and identity.
“This is ethnic cleansing,” says Al-Shaer. “They want to erase us from the map.”
Conclusion: A Nation on the Brink
Syria, long fractured by war, is facing a new horror. The crisis in Suwayda reveals how fragile the promise of peace remains in a post-Assad era. As global powers attempt to broker fragile truces, the fate of the Druze — and Syria’s other minorities — hangs in the balance.