Key facts
- Syrian authorities have begun trying suspects over deadly violence in Sweida province.
- The violence in July 2025 involved clashes between Druze factions and Bedouin fighters.
- Over 2,000 people were killed, including 789 Druze civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
- A government committee documented the killing of 1,760 people.
- UN investigators stated that war crimes and crimes against humanity may have been committed.
Syrian authorities have initiated trials for individuals accused of involvement in a wave of deadly violence that afflicted the Druze-majority Sweida province in July 2025. This period saw some of the most severe internal bloodshed in Syria since the toppling of Bashar al-Assad's regime in late 2024.
The violence began as clashes between Druze factions and Bedouin fighters, with security forces reportedly intervening on the side of the Bedouins and other tribal groups. The conflict resulted in over 2,000 fatalities, including 789 Druze civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. A committee established by the Syrian government documented 1,760 killings.
A court in Damascus commenced public examination of these cases on July 1, with defendants and their legal representatives present. The justice ministry stated that the proceedings aim to "establish the facts and hold accountable anyone proven responsible for any violations... regardless of their position or the side to which the acts are attributed." Other individuals remain under investigation.
UN investigators from the Commission of Inquiry on Syria (COI) have indicated that war crimes and crimes against humanity may have been committed in Sweida. The COI's report, based on over 400 firsthand accounts, documented widespread violations including executions, torture, gender-based violence, and the burning of homes, primarily against Druze and Bedouin communities. These acts were carried out by multiple actors, including Syrian government forces and Druze armed groups.