ISTANBUL 

At least 10 people were killed and 40 injured in clashes Sunday between armed Bedouin tribal fighters and Druze militias in the southern Syrian governorate of Suwayda, local sources told Anadolu.

The confrontations began when the two sides seized each other’s vehicles, prompting a rapid escalation that turned into heavy fighting involving medium and heavy weapons.

Most of the casualties were members of the armed groups, though some civilians were also wounded, the sources said. Hospitals in the area were receiving the injured, with officials warning that the death toll could rise.

Suwayda Governor Mustafa al-Bakkour called in a statement for restraint and dialogue, urging residents “to respond to national appeals for reform” and to avoid further violence.

He referenced earlier incidents on the Damascus–Suwayda highway, including vehicle thefts and kidnappings, which contributed to the current unrest.

Al-Bakkour praised local efforts aimed at defusing tensions and warned against attempts to ignite sectarian strife or deepen divisions.

Brig. Gen. Nizar al-Hariri, deputy head of internal security for police affairs in Suwayda, told a news channel that security forces are closely monitoring developments near the Makawwas neighborhood in eastern Suwayda.

He attributed the escalation to the recent armed robbery of a commercial sector worker on the Damascus–Suwayda highway, which triggered a cycle of retaliatory abductions.

Hariri said efforts are underway in coordination with community leaders to restore calm through dialogue and maintain civil peace.

In response to the unrest, the Internal Security commander in Daraa Governorate, Brigadier General Shaher Jabr Imran, told Syria’s official news agency SANA that security forces had launched a coordinated deployment along the administrative border with Suwayda.

He said the move was designed to “contain security developments and prevent the spread of conflict to neighboring areas” while reaffirming the government’s commitment to protecting public safety.

Imran warned against any attempts to exploit the situation to incite unrest and vowed that security forces would act decisively to uphold the rule of law.

He also called on tribal leaders and local figures in both governorates to support de-escalation efforts and preserve social unity.

Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia in December, ending the Baath Party regime, which had been in power since 1963.

A new transitional administration led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa was formed in Syria in January.