Syrian Bedouin families displaced from Suweida as shaky ceasefire holds

More than 300 members of tribal families detained in the southern Syrian city of Suweida were sent to neighbouring Daraa province on Monday, in what local sources say is the first such operation of its kind since renewed violence gripped the region earlier this month.

The evacuees were transported by bus to the town of Busra al-Harir in eastern rural Daraa, as part of a wider agreement brokered between the Syrian government and tribal representatives, after being expelled from their homes following clashes between Bedouin and Druze militias.

The Internal Security Forces were deployed across key areas of Suweida to oversee the evacuations and ensure the protection of civilians during the process.

Brigadier General Ahmad al-Dalati, head of internal security in Suweida, confirmed that an agreement had been reached allowing any civilian wishing to leave the province to do so, and pledged continued support for evacuation efforts. He also stated that security forces had imposed a cordon around the city "to secure it and halt internal clashes".

The head of public relations at the Syrian Ministry of Information, Ali al-Rifai, said the evacuation aims to remove up to 1,500 members of tribal families from Suweida, most of whom have been caught in the crossfire during recent clashes between local factions and state-linked security bodies.

The agreement follows a period of escalating violence that saw tribal families - many of them of Bedouin origin - detained in Suweida. On Sunday, US Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack announced that a ceasefire between the opposing parties had taken effect at 5pm local time.

He added that the next phase would involve a prisoner exchange, with logistical preparations already underway.

Despite the cessation of hostilities, the evacuation has sparked widespread anger on social media, with some describing it as an act of forced displacement.

Many have criticised the move as an attempt to alter the demographic balance in southern Syria or enforce a new political reality on the ground.

Clashes erupted in Suweida in mid-July 2025 between Druze factions and Bedouin tribal fighters following a reported attack on a merchant and a series of retaliatory kidnappings.

The violence quickly escalated into sectarian clashes, leaving hundreds dead and tens of thousands displaced, with both sides accused of committing abuses. A ceasefire, brokered with international support, came into effect on July 15, although tensions remain high and sporadic violations have continued.

In a separate development, the first Syrian Arab Red Crescent aid convoy entered Suweida on Monday, delivering much-needed humanitarian supplies to residents caught up in the recent clashes.

The convoy’s arrival was seen as a step towards de-escalation, but concerns remain over the fate of those still detained and the long-term stability of the region.