Sectarian Bloodbath in Sweida: Syria Faces New Crisis as Violence Displaces Thousands

Sweida, a Druze-majority city in southern Syria, has erupted into the worst sectarian violence since the fall of Assad, with over 1,300 killed and nearly 150,000 displaced in just over a week. Clashes between Druze fighters, Bedouin tribes, and government forces have devastated the city, overwhelming hospitals and leading to mass graves for unidentified victims. The violence has exposed deep-rooted sectarian tensions and the inability of Syria's transitional government to maintain order or protect minorities. Humanitarian agencies report catastrophic conditions, with urgent shortages of food, water, and medical supplies. The fragile ceasefire now in place offers little hope for lasting peace, as the risk of renewed civil war and further fragmentation looms.