Intense fighting broke out today in southern Syria between Bedouin tribal fighters backed by Syrian government forces and Druze militias near the city of As-Suwayda, where state security forces had previously withdrawn. The clashes, marked by heavy gunfire and mounting casualties, threaten to escalate into a broader conflict as tribal factions mobilize reinforcements from across Syria and neighboring countries.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported fierce clashes west of As-Suwayda, pitting government-backed tribal and Bedouin fighters against local Druze armed groups. Both sides confirmed exchanges of gunfire, with casualties rapidly increasing.

A spokesperson for Syria’s Interior Ministry announced that security forces are preparing to redeploy in As-Suwayda to quell the violence. The move comes after Syrian Arab tribes declared a general mobilization on Thursday in support of Bedouin communities in the region, accusing Druze factions of "killings and forced displacement."

Tribal fighters launched a large-scale offensive, seizing multiple villages and tightening their grip on the northern approaches to As-Suwayda. A tribal commander speaking to the German Press Agency (DPA) claimed that over 50,000 fighters are involved in the operation, with tens of thousands more expected to arrive from eastern Syria, Aleppo, and surrounding areas.

The source added that 41 tribes—representing more than 70% of Syria’s population—are engaged in the fighting. There are also reports of Arab tribes from Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon preparing to join the conflict.

Tribal sources allege that over 100 people were killed on Thursday in attacks by factions loyal to Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, with tens of thousands displaced after their homes were burned. The SOHR estimates the total death toll from the clashes has reached around 600, including 275 Syrian military and security personnel and 304 civilians from As-Suwayda.

The Syrian government, already struggling with instability in other regions, faces a critical test in As-Suwayda. The withdrawal of state forces earlier this week allowed tensions between Druze communities and Bedouin tribes—long simmering over land and political disputes—to explode into open warfare.