Destruction and siege drive As-Sweida into a deepening humanitarian crisis

The humanitarian situation in As-Sweida is steadily deteriorating following weeks of violence, destruction, and a subsequent siege. The governorate, which witnessed intense clashes in mid-July between local armed groups, Syrian government forces, and tribal fighters, has been largely cut off from the rest of Syria since a ceasefire on 19 July. Shortages of food, medicine, and petrol have left humanitarian aid convoys entering from neighboring Dar’a as the only lifeline. While aid and local initiatives meet some needs, the scarcity has disrupted daily life and threatens to push the area into deeper crisis.

Local Dispute Escalates into Wider Conflict

On 13 July, tit-for-tat kidnappings between the Druze and local Bedouin communities in As-Sweida escalated into armed clashes in the al-Mqawas neighborhood of As-Sweida city. What began as a local dispute quickly grew into a broader conflict involving tribal fighters from across Syria and, eventually, the Syrian government. Fighting spread to the border area between As-Sweida and Dar’a, where tribal forces attacked Druze armed groups in retaliation for earlier assaults.

The Syrian government initially sent forces to separate the sides, but they soon became directly involved, largely fighting against Druze groups. The Ministry of Defense struggled to control the situation, leading to mass killings reminiscent of earlier violence on the Syrian coast. Eyewitnesses documented uniformed soldiers and members of hastily assembled government units committing atrocities against civilians.

Sources told Truth Trend that tribal fighters — and, at times, government security forces — entered As-Sweida’s western countryside, systematically destroying wells, stealing livestock, burning buildings, orchards, and crops, and committing massacres against civilians. Sources inside the As-Sweida’s Health Council reported an initial death toll of 2,000, a number that is expected to rise sharply if independent investigators gain access to the still-restricted western countryside.

Israel eventually intervened on 16 July and conducted a series of airstrikes against advancing government forces in addition to the Ministry of Defense building, the Army General Command headquarters, and the Presidential Palace in Damascus as a warning to the government to stop the advance. The Syrian government heeded the warning and withdrew but Tribal forces from across Syria started their march towards As-Sweida and clashed with the Druze armed groups. Israel later intervened again on 17 July and bombed Tribal convoys before a ceasefire was eventually reached on 19 July.

According to OCHA, more than 192,000 people were displaced, most within As-Sweida itself. Others — mainly from local Bedouin communities — fled to Dar’a or Rural Damascus fearing retaliation. Influxes into As-Sweida and Shahba cities have increased demand for goods and strained local services.

Siege Triggers Food Shortages

The destruction was compounded by a de facto siege cutting off commercial deliveries of food, medicine, and fuel. “Food is gradually disappearing from the markets,” said Nader (a pseudonym), a resident of As-Sweida city. Fruits and vegetables are in short supply, both because transport is blocked and because much of the governorate’s farmland is now under government and tribal control.

Poultry farming has been hit particularly hard, as fodder imports have stopped. Many farmers slaughtered their chickens and distributed the meat before they could no longer care for the animals, raising fears that chicken and eggs will soon vanish from local markets. Grains remain available thanks to large stockpiles held by some traders, but bread distribution is inconsistent and dependent on flour deliveries.

Fares (a pseudonym), a farmer from Shaqa, described bakery queues sometimes exceeding 200 people. “Not everyone gets bread, and the quality is poor,” he said.

Healthcare System Under Strain

Even before the current crisis, As-Sweida’s hospitals were under-resourced and understaffed. The recent violence and siege have worsened the situation, with shortages of equipment and supplies and an exodus of specialized doctors. During the clashes, hospitals received hundreds of patients despite their limited capacity.

On 16 July, government forces reportedly raided As-Sweida National Hospital, abusing staff and executing volunteer Mohamad Bohsas inside the facility. Since the siege began, patients with chronic illnesses have struggled to access treatment. Nearly 9,600 cancer patients have faced interruptions in chemotherapy and medication supplies, with many unable to travel to Damascus. On 11 August, activist and cancer patient Shaheera Fayad al-Turoudi Azzam died after missing critical treatments.

Petrol Shortage Disrupts Daily Life

Petrol scarcity has crippled transportation and municipal services. Prices have soared to 200,000 SYP ($19) per liter, making commuting to work or school impossible for many. Public transportation beyond As-Sweida city has largely stopped, and those with remaining fuel use it only for urgent needs. Garbage collection has halted due to the fuel shortage, leading to trash piling up in residential areas and raising public health concerns. Nader told Truth Trend that petrol is banned to prevent its use by Druze armed groups, though limited diesel shipments are allowed for hospitals and water pumps.

As-Sweida “Divorces” the Syrian Government

Sheikh Bassem Abu Fakhr, spokesperson for Harakat Rijal al-Karama — As-Sweida’s largest local armed group — told Truth Trend that the group once cooperated with the new Syrian government under President Ahmad al-Sharaa, even facilitating recruitment for government security forces. That cooperation ended after the government’s attacks on As-Sweida and its residents.

Abu Fakhr accused the government and tribal forces of jointly enforcing the siege, allowing only minimal supplies in. Abu Fakher considers “the Syrian government and Israel to be two sides of the same terrorist coin”, saying that “the government’s terrorist acts provided Israel with the pretext to intervene in the governorate. “As-Sweida is now divorced from the current Syrian government,” he declared, adding that they will only work with a future administration inclusive of all Syrian communities.

Harakat Rijal al-Karama’s shift in position is also reflective of the increased anti-government sentiment among the local population in As-Sweida after the atrocities committed by Syrian government forces. On 1 August, hundreds of residents protested to demand government forces withdraw outside of As-Sweida’s administrative boundaries, that the siege be lifted, and called for an international investigation committee to look into the violations that occurred in the governorate.

Risk of Further Deterioration

The standoff between Druze armed groups and the Syrian government leaves little hope for a quick resolution. If the siege continues, the humanitarian crisis will deepen. As-Sweida’s dependence on imported food, fodder, and fuel means supplies are running dangerously low. Bread and fuel remain scarce, and waste accumulation could trigger a public health emergency. Limited fuel also hampers the evacuation of critical medical cases.

Without an end to the siege and the resumption of commercial deliveries, conditions in As-Sweida are likely to worsen, and anti-government sentiment will continue to grow — making reconciliation increasingly unlikely.