After eight days of intense fighting, a ceasefire has brought a fragile peace to Syria’s southern province of Sweida.
The truce, fully implemented on Monday, has halted clashes between local Druze fighters and Bedouin tribal militants that began on July 13. However, the fighting has forced over 2,000 Arab Sunni Bedouin families to flee their homes, seeking refuge in the neighboring province of Daraa.
“We left with nothing but the clothes on our backs,” said one man who escaped from the city of Shahba in Sweida. Many families fear sectarian reprisals and possible eviction, unsure if they will be able to return home.
The ceasefire, reportedly mediated with support from the United States, calls for all armed groups and government forces to withdraw from Sweida. It also plans for a United Nations-led investigation into the recent violence, along with humanitarian aid deliveries and potential prisoner exchanges.
Despite the cessation of hostilities, human rights organizations are raising concerns about the displacement of so many families. Rami Abdulrahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, described the situation as a “demographic shift” reminiscent of earlier displacements during Syria’s ongoing conflict. He urged the Syrian government to release the full details of the ceasefire agreement.
As calm returns to Sweida, many are questioning whether the peace will hold amid deep-seated sectarian tensions. The focus now shifts to whether the displaced families will be allowed to return and rebuild their lives.
