Fresh fighting in Syria's Suwayda leaves one dead: What to know

Clashes between Syrian government forces and a Druze militia killed one fighter and injured several security personnel in the southern province of Suwayda early Tuesday, marking the latest flare-up after days of violence. 

What happened: The fighting erupted around Mazraa, about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) northwest of Suwayda city, before spreading across parts of the province’s western and northern countryside, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The Observatory said one member of the National Guard, a Druze militia opposed to the government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, was killed and around 10 internal security personnel were injured. Syria’s official SANA news agency reported that four security personnel were injured while responding to attacks by “outlaw groups.”

Suwayda 24, a local news outlet, posted footage purportedly showing National Guard fighters shelling government positions. It also reported that electricity lines were damaged in the fighting, causing power cuts on Tuesday.

The National Guard sent reinforcements to the area, according to the Observatory. The militia is led by Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, a Druze spiritual leader and vocal opponent of Sharaa who has demanded autonomy for Suwayda.

The latest violence began last Thursday, and two civilians were killed in further clashes Sunday, Agence France-Presse reported.

Why it matters: The renewed fighting underscores Damascus’ continued struggle to establish control over Suwayda, where relations between the government and the predominantly Druze population remain strained following deadly violence last year.

At least 1,700 people, predominantly Druze civilians, were killed by government and affiliated forces, according to a March report from the UN’s Syria Commission. Hijri formed the National Guard the following month. The violence ended with a ceasefire, followed in September by a Syrian-Jordanian-US roadmap aimed at restoring security and government services, advancing accountability and returning displaced residents.

The National Guard nevertheless clashed with government forces again in June and July. UN Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Claudio Cordone said in June that Damascus had made little progress toward integrating Suwayda.

The dispute has also become increasingly entangled with Israel’s involvement in southern Syria. Hijri, who supports Israel’s presence in Syria, has escalated his rhetoric recently. Last week, he called Syrian Druze “an integral part of the state of Israel” at a gathering in Suwayda. Israel says it is acting to protect Syria’s Druze and has conducted military operations primarily in Quneitra and Daraa, west of Suwayda.

Sharaa has condemned Israel’s actions while pursuing a security agreement intended to ease tensions. He has also pledged to bring all of Syria under the authority of the central government, protect minorities and hold those responsible for killing civilians accountable.

The Syrian Justice Ministry in July began prosecuting people accused of involvement in the July 2025 violence. Suwayda remains one of the last parts of Syria where Damascus has not established itself as the sole military authority, particularly following the dissolution of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces under an integration agreement last month. The northeast was largely outside of Damascus’ control until the agreement with the SDF, and much of the rest of the country is under government authority.