Clashes in Southern Syria Displace Thousands Amid Sectarian Violence

Violence has recently surged in southern Syria's Druze-majority Sweida province, with clashes between Druze militias and Sunni Bedouin clans causing significant instability and displacement. The Syrian government forces have largely withdrawn from Sweida following intense confrontations and Israeli airstrikes, which Israel claims are to protect the Druze minority but analysts argue are part of broader territorial ambitions. A ceasefire brokered by international mediators, including the United States and Turkey, has temporarily eased tensions, with security responsibility handed to local religious elders and factions. Despite the ceasefire, retaliatory attacks and sectarian violence continue to threaten Syria's fragile post-war peace, raising concerns about militant sectarianism. The United States has played a key role in negotiating the truce, aiming to restore calm in the region. The complex dynamics underscore the ongoing challenges in stabilizing Syria amid regional power plays and ethnic divisions.