Calm returns to Sweida after round of clashes between Druze, government forces

DAMASCUS, Syria — A new round of clashes between Druze armed groups and government forces in the province of Sweida in southern Syria has subsided, but leaves fears of another escalation.

Clashes yesterday led to both sides blaming each other for violating a ceasefire that ended several days of violent fighting in July. There were reports of people wounded on both sides, but no deaths were reported.

The National Guard, the de facto military in Sweida, accused government forces of launching an attack on the town of al-Majdal Thursday, “employing heavy and medium weapons and attack drones, in an aggressive attempt to breach our defense lines and target vital locations.”

“Our forces bravely and with high combat efficiency repelled this attack, inflicting heavy losses on the attacking forces in terms of equipment and personnel,” it says in a statement.

The government in Damascus accuses the Sweida factions of violating the ceasefire first.

Mustafa al-Bakour, the Damascus-appointed governor of Sweida province, says “some factions and the so-called National Guard” launched “attacks on de-escalation points.” The attacks, he adds, “constitute a clear violation of international agreements and obstruct efforts to rebuild and prepare for the return of residents to their villages.”