{"id":2463479,"date":"2025-07-18T11:42:01","date_gmt":"2025-07-18T15:42:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fighting-resumes-in-southern-syria-after-massive-mobilization-by-pro-government-bedouin-tribes-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-07-18T11:44:22","modified_gmt":"2025-07-18T15:44:22","slug":"fighting-resumes-in-southern-syria-after-massive-mobilization-by-pro-government-bedouin-tribes-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fighting-resumes-in-southern-syria-after-massive-mobilization-by-pro-government-bedouin-tribes-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Fighting resumes in southern Syria after massive mobilization by pro-government Bedouin tribes &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ffighting-resumes-in-southern-syria-after-massive-mobilization-by-pro-government-bedouin-tribes-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2463479&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Fighting has resumed in southern Syria,especially in the Druze-dominated Suwayda region,following a large-scale mobilization of pro-government Bedouin tribes aiming to suppress Druze rebels. The conflict intensified after initial clashes triggered by kidnappings and attacks between the Druze and local Bedouins. The Syrian government recently withdrew from Suwayda, announcing a ceasefire, but Bedouin forces, suspected of acting with Damascus&#8217; tacit approval and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >possibly including government troops<\/a>, launched a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hezbollah-leader-israeli-violation-of-holy-sites-in-jerusalem-will-lead-to-regional-war\/\" title=\"Hezbollah Leader: ...i Violation of Holy Sites in Jerusalem Will Lead to \u2018Regional War\u2019\">major offensive<\/a> against the Druze.<\/p>\n<p>The Druze militias, supported by heavy Israeli airstrikes, initially held their ground, but the sheer number of mobilized Bedouin fighters threatens to overwhelm them. Israel has allowed limited entry of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/syrian-survivors-of-chemical-weapons-attack-file-criminal-complaint-against-syrian-officials\/\" title=\"...n Survivors Of Chemical Weapons Attack File Criminal Complaint Against ...n Officials\">syrian government forces<\/a> into the region temporarily to help stabilize the situation. The violence marks the worst sectarian clashes in syria as the end of the civil war in December 2024,with hundreds of confirmed deaths and fears of escalating atrocities. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/israeli-police-arrest-five-for-allegedly-assaulting-christians-in-jerusalems-old-city\/\" title=\"...i police detain five individuals accused of assaulting Christians in Jerusalem&#039;s Old City.\">local christian community<\/a> has voiced solidarity with the Druze amid the fighting. <\/p>\n<p>The situation remains fluid and dangerous, with ongoing hostilities risking further destabilization in southern Syria.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Fighting resumes in southern Syria after massive mobilization by pro-government Bedouin tribes<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2176116\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Fierce fighting reignited in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3472797\/understanding-enigmatic-druze-community-heart-syrian-unrest\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Druze\">Druze<\/a>-dominated areas of southern <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/syria\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Druze\">Syria<\/a> on Friday after tens of thousands of Bedouin tribesmen across the country mobilized to crush Druze rebels.<\/p>\n<p>After days of fierce fighting, the Syrian government withdrew from the Druze stronghold of Suwayda after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3474049\/syrian-government-forces-withdraw-druze-new-ceasefire\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"announcing a ceasefire\">announcing a ceasefire<\/a>. The Druze Suwayda Military Council was successful in the first round of fighting, backed by heavy Israeli airstrikes that devastated government convoys and hit government buildings in Damascus. Shortly after the government withdrew, however, dozens of allied Bedouin tribes announced a general mobilization across Syria, sending tens of thousands of fighters to take the south.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/3473606\/tyrants-need-buffers-chinese-communist-party-hong-kong\/\">Tyrants need buffers: China is not a monolith. That&#8217;s an opportunity for the West.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3474986\/british-government-lower-voting-age-16\/\">British government to lower voting age to 16 years old ahead of next election<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3474792\/pope-leo-gaza-ceasefire-israeli-forces-hit-catholic-church\/\">Pope Leo calls for Gaza ceasefire after Israeli forces hit Catholic church in region<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bedouin fighters gather in front of a burned shop at Mazraa village on the outskirts of Suwayda city, during clashes between the Bedouin clans and Druze militias on Friday, July 18, 2025, in southern Syria. (AP Photo\/Ghaith Alsayed)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The fighting in southern Syria began on Sunday after tit-for-tat kidnappings and attacks between Druze and local Bedouins. The Bedouins are loyal to the government but ostensibly mobilized independently. Druze sources suspect that the mobilization was ordered or carried out with the tacit blessing of Damascus, with some suggesting that the Bedouin forces include some government troops.<\/p>\n<p>Pro-government sources accused Druze militants of carrying out massacres and other atrocities against Bedouin civilians.<\/p>\n<p>Bedouin commanders argued that they were not bound by the Wednesday ceasefire, which was only agreed upon by the government. Bedouin militants launched a major offensive beginning Thursday evening, pushing Druze forces back. Reports suggested that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Israel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Israel<\/a> launched airstrikes in support of its Druze allies, though the Israeli military did not confirm.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bedouin fighters deploy at Mazraa village on the outskirts of Suwayda city, as smoke rises from the clashes between the Bedouin clans and Druze militias on Friday, July 18, 2025, in southern Syria. (AP Photo\/Ghaith Alsayed)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In a marked turnaround from Thursday, Israel said it agreed to allow Syrian government forces into the Suwayda region for the next two days to quell the renewed fighting.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In light of the ongoing instability in southwest Syria, Israel has agreed to allow limited entry of the [Syrian] internal security forces into Suwayda district for the next 48 hours,&rdquo; an Israeli official who declined to be named told reporters, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timesofisrael.com\/israel-says-its-allowing-syrian-forces-to-enter-sweida-for-48-hours-amid-renewed-clashes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"according to\">according to<\/a> the <em>Times of Israel<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Pro-government sources <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Charles_Lister\/status\/1946158199477883280\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"claimed\">claimed<\/a> that the leader of the SMC, Hikmat al Hijri, was requesting that Damascus send its forces to Suwayda to stop the fighting.<\/p>\n<p>As of Friday afternoon, local time, geolocated videos showed Bedouin forces fighting with the SMC in towns north of Suwayda city.<\/p>\n<p>The scale of the Bedouin army has strained the tribes&rsquo; logistics. Videos showed gunmen traveling to fighting areas in buses and being loaded into the back of a semi-trailer truck.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Syrian tribes are literally transporting fighters by truck to Suwayda. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/8plazLRGRY\">pic.twitter.com\/8plazLRGRY<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Clash Report (@clashreport) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/clashreport\/status\/1946161094663217324?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 18, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">WATCH: Syrian Akidat tribe members from Deir ez-Zor region rushing to battle with a bus, on their way to Suwayda. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/eB1BJbKkqD\">pic.twitter.com\/eB1BJbKkqD<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Clash Report (@clashreport) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/clashreport\/status\/1946160960248434857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 18, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Though the Bedouin tribal army lacks the discipline and heavy weaponry of the government, the sheer number of fighters could overwhelm the Druze enclave. Videos showed dozens of militants taking part in assaults on Druze positions.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">&#9889;&#65039; Clashes are intensifying between the bedouin clans and Druze separatists in the countryside of Suweida. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/75lYY7r4Rd\">https:\/\/t.co\/75lYY7r4Rd<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/1NKThtwio2\">pic.twitter.com\/1NKThtwio2<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; MenchOsint (@MenchOsint) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MenchOsint\/status\/1946177768116330995?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 18, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The lack of discipline of the Arab tribal army, motivated by tales of atrocities committed against their kinsmen, raises the risks of even worse atrocities than those that consumed the area earlier this week.<\/p>\n<p>The local Christian community also fears atrocities from the invading tribal army. The representative of the Greek Catholic Church in Suwayda, Father Toni Butros, proclaimed his support for the Druze amid the struggle.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We have not left our homeland,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;As Christians, we stand with our Druze brothers and sisters against these <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/terrorism\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">terrorist attacks<\/a>.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">&#127480;&#127486; Father Toni Butros, Greek Catholic leader in Sweida, stands firm in solidarity with the Druze community amid sectarian violence. &#8220;We have not left our homeland. As Christians, we stand with our Druze brothers and sisters against these terrorist attacks.&#8221; Watch his powerful&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/xqw8oQbTh7\">pic.twitter.com\/xqw8oQbTh7<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Greek City Times (@greekcitytimes) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/greekcitytimes\/status\/1946158260995977535?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 18, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The fighting in the south is the worst violence to engulf Syria since the end of the civil war on Dec. 8, 2024, surpassing the sectarian violence seen between government forces and Alawites along Syria&rsquo;s coast. Casualty estimates are difficult to calculate due to the chaotic nature of the fighting and a blackout in Suwayda, but confirmed deaths are in the several hundreds. The new Bedouin invasion is likely to further boost the death toll.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3474049\/syrian-government-forces-withdraw-druze-new-ceasefire\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"SYRIAN GOVERNMENT FORCES WITHDRAW FROM DRUZE AREAS, ANNOUNCES NEW CEASEFIRE\">SYRIAN GOVERNMENT FORCES WITHDRAW FROM DRUZE AREAS, ANNOUNCES NEW CEASEFIRE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Druze have been able to hold their own so far, boosted by support from Israel, which has a large, loyal Druze community.<\/p>\n<p>Israel&rsquo;s intervention saw a rare rift between Jerusalem and Washington, with the United States denouncing Israel&rsquo;s airstrikes on Thursday. The Trump administration has thrown in its lot with the new government, led by former Islamic State group lieutenant and head of al Qaida in Syria, Ahmed al Sharaa, hoping to bring peace to the country, which experienced the second bloodiest war of the 21st century.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2176116\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2176116\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fighting restarts in southern Syria as pro-government Bedouins mobilize<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2653,"featured_media":2463480,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Bedouin-fighters.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[59413,5237,59414,46281,7887],"class_list":["post-2463479","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-bedouin-tribes","tag-conflict","tag-pro-government","tag-southern-syria","tag-syria"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Bedouin-fighters.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2463479","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2463479"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2463479\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2463483,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2463479\/revisions\/2463483"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2463480"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2463479"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2463479"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2463479"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}