Illustrative image. (Syrian Arab News Agency)
Clashes renewed between forces of Syria’s Islamist-led interim government and Druze fighters in the southern governorate of al-Suwayda on August 3, with casualties being reported.
According to the state-run Ekhbariya TV, the Druze attacked security forces in violation of a ceasefire brokered last month, killing one member and wounding several others, and fired shells at several towns in the western countryside of al-Suwayda.
“A member of the General Security forces was killed and seven others were injured… as clashes erupted with local factions around Tal Hadid in the western al-Suwayda countryside,” said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), which also reported the death of a “local fighter” from the Druze.
Tal Hadid is a “key control point” at a relatively high altitude that oversees most of the western al-Suwayda countryside, according to the London-based monitoring group.
Fighting also erupted around the town of Thaala, further to the west, the Observatory said, “following bombardment of the area with shells and heavy weapons launched from areas under the control of government forces, while the sound of explosions and gunfire was heard in various parts of al-Suwayda city.”
Meanwhile, Druze activists said that the attack on Tal Hadid came in response to a series of provocations by government forces and allied tribesmen.
Druze fighters later withdrew from the key hell upon orders from the group’s spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, who called for restraint in a brief statement. The SOHR said in an update that security forces lost a total of three of its personnel with ten more wounded.
Damascus has been imposing a siege on al-Suwayda, with the Observatory saying the government wants to “force inhabitants to comply.” The decision to withdraw from Tal Hadid was apparently taken to deny the government any pretext to close a crossing bringing limited aid to the governorate.
Last month, Israel intervened to stop an attack by government forces on the Druze in al-Suwayda. Israel justifies its intervention by its historic ties to its own Druze community. The battle claimed the lives of more than 1,400 people, including hundreds of Druze civilians who were executed by government forces, before ending with a ceasefire brokered by the United States.
Druze fighters maintained control over al-Suwayda city along with much of its eastern and southern countryside. However, government forces held into most of the northern and western countryside of the governorate.
The clashes around Tal Hadid have very much come to an end, but the conflict in al-Suwayda is not over yet. Everything indicates that a fierce battle will soon break out in the governorate. Its fate will hinge on Israel supporting the Druze again, or abandoning them.
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holy smokes. again?
idf must support druze advance now is the time .