Tensions Rise in Southern Syria as Towns in Suwayda Countryside Come Under Fire

By Kardo Roj

SUWAYDA, Syria (North Press) –
Two towns in Suwayda’s countryside in southern Syria came under mortar and heavy machine gun fire on Wednesday morning, resulting in at least one injury and significant property damage, amid growing unrest between government forces and communities in the predominantly Druze region.

A North Press correspondent reported that Rasas, a town in southern Suwayda, was shelled with mortar rounds, injuring Hossam al-Bahri, a local resident, and damaging nearby homes and infrastructure.

In the north of the governorate, the town of al-Surah al-Kabirah also witnessed shelling, according to local sources, contributing to a state of widespread tension across several communities in Suwayda.

These developments come in the wake of clashes and heightened security measures across the broader region. Since early Tuesday, nearby areas such as Jaramana and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, located in the Damascus countryside, have experienced ongoing confrontations between Syrian government forces and what state media has described as “outlawed armed groups.”

According to Syrian officials, these incidents are part of a broader security sweep aimed at restoring order. However, local sources suggest the escalation is linked to longstanding grievances among local communities in southern Syria, particularly in Druze-majority areas, over political marginalization and deteriorating economic conditions.

Suwayda has remained relatively autonomous compared to other regions in Syria throughout the conflict, with its Druze population maintaining a cautious relationship with the Syrian government. While not a frontline in the war, the area has seen occasional flare-ups, often tied to tensions between local self-defense groups and government-aligned security forces.

Wednesday’s incidents mark a troubling shift as direct military action, including shelling of residential areas, risks undermining an already fragile local stability. Civil society actors and community leaders in Suwayda have consistently called for de-escalation and dialogue, stressing the importance of preserving communal harmony in a region already strained by years of war and economic hardship.