Syria’s Suwayda clashes break out as frequent ceasefire violations continue
SUWAYDA, Syria (North Press) – Armed clashes erupted on Sunday night between fighters from the National Guard and members of the Syrian government forces stationed in the western countryside of Suwayda, southern Syria.
Local sources told North Press that the fighting, which lasted several hours, involved medium and heavy weapons and sparked fear among civilians in the area. There were no confirmed reports of casualties or material damage at the time of reporting.
Local residents described a tense atmosphere as gunfire and explosions broke the uneasy calm that has followed months of sporadic fighting and failed truces in the Druze-majority governorate.
Witnesses said families remained confined to their homes during the clashes, worried about further escalation.
The National Guard is a Druze-led paramilitary coalition formed in late August 2025 that brought together multiple local armed factions under the religious leadership of Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, with the stated aim of defending Suwayda and coordinating security efforts in the governorate amid ongoing conflict with government forces and tribal groups. It has grown into one of the main armed actors in the governorate since its formation.
In mid-July 2025, after days of intense fighting that erupted following broader clashes between the National Guard, Bedouin tribal militants, and Syrian government forces, a ceasefire agreement was announced aimed at halting hostilities in Suwayda.
The deal, backed by Syrian authorities and supported regionally, sought to end the worst of violence that had killed hundreds and displaced thousands, allow security forces to enforce calm, facilitate the release of detainees, and create conditions for a return to stability.
However, despite formal declarations that the ceasefire was holding in many areas, frequent violations and renewed clashes have continued over subsequent months, undermining the truce and exposing the fragile nature of security arrangements in the governorate.