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Sayda: A Fire Beneath the Ashes Threatening the Syrian Civil Peace
Considering the complexities of the conflict between Israeli and Turkish interests in Syria and the resulting entanglements, it is crucial for us Syrians to prioritize our national interests and establish our priorities. Based on this, I will objectively address the situation in Suwayda and the ongoing war there from a purely local Syrian perspective, in the hope that Syrians can unite for the common benefit of all Syrians before any other consideration.
The governorate of Suwayda, this geographically sensitive area with extremely delicate demographic and geopolitical significance in southern Syria, is witnessing a serious escalation of intra-community fighting. It has transformed rooted social and criminal disputes into a bloody conflict that threatens the entire social fabric. This crisis dynamic, which involves factions from tribes and Bedouin clans on one side, and the sons of Suwayda city from the noble Druze community on the other, demands in-depth political analysis and a firm stance calling for immediate de-escalation and holding the transitional authorities fully responsible.
The security and military vacuum that followed the fall of the previous regime’s forces from the region is not merely an incidental result of political reshuffling; rather, it is a strategic void deliberately or helplessly left, allowing non-national forces to expand and reshape power balances based on ethnic and tribal lines. This vacuum, coupled with widespread arms and the penetration of the war economy, has created a fertile environment for organized crime, kidnapping, and extortion, which in turn have ignited sparks of collective violence that are difficult to contain.
What is happening in Suwayda goes beyond traditional tribal disputes. It reflects a systematic erosion of state institutions and the absence of a national program inclusive of the entire Syrian multiplicity, and a lack of a justice and law enforcement umbrella. Mutual accusations of serious violations, including assaults and abuses based on sectarian and doctrinal differences, should not be overlooked. Regardless of the perpetrators, these crimes require transparent investigation and strict accountability in accordance with national and international laws to ensure impunity is avoided and to deter attempts to exploit chaos for personal agendas.
The transitional authority, which currently leads the Syrian political scene, must comprehend the magnitude of its moral, social, and legal responsibilities. Its task is not limited to managing routine affairs but extends to restoring state authority, ensuring security and stability, protecting civilians, and safeguarding the social fabric from disintegration. Allowing this conflict to persist or failing to take decisive measures would be a neglect of national duty, potentially leading to grave consequences, including the possibility of the region slipping toward sectarian or ethnic division, which would serve no party in the long run.
*It is worth noting that the future of Syria depends on the ability of all actors — supporters or opposition, loyalists or dissenters — to overcome this crisis and prove their competence in crisis management, maintaining civil peace, and preserving the Syrian territorial unity. This requires a crucial and intrinsic condition: rising above identities below the national level, including narrow political and authoritarian projects.*
The urgent call today is for immediate de-escalation and restraint from all parties involved. The wise and prudent sons of Suwayda — tribal Sheikhs, religious figures, and community elders — must lead the scene, speaking out for reason and wisdom, and prioritizing national interests over narrow factional gains. The transitional authorities must also assume their responsibilities by intervening swiftly and effectively to enforce a ceasefire, secure humanitarian corridors, protect civilians, and work toward a comprehensive and fair resolution of the ongoing disputes, moving beyond temporary security solutions toward laying strong foundations for peaceful coexistence.
The future of Suwayda, as an inseparable part of Syria, depends on the ability of all actors to overcome this crisis. Will the transitional authorities prove their competence in crisis management and maintaining civil peace? Or will Suwayda remain a battlefield for conflicts that undermine any hope for stability, recovery, and the transition to a national state?
By Politician and Writer Ahmad Mansour
