New outbreaks of violence have rocked Syria, straining a fragile ceasefire and raising questions about the transitional government’s ability to exert its authority across the country. The clashes occurred at two distinct flashpoints: the north, where Kurdish-led forces clashed with government-affiliated fighters, and the southern province of Sweida, where they battled Druze armed groups.
The violence comes as Syria’s interim authorities try to maintain a ceasefire in Sweida after recent clashes between Druze factions and security forces. The government is also attempting to implement an agreement with the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to reintegrate northeastern Syria with the rest of the country.
The Syrian government has been struggling to consolidate control since President Ahmad al-Sharaa took office in December, ending the Assad family’s decades-long autocratic rule. Critics have accused Sharaa of de facto Islamist rule and cooperation with affiliated fighters from militant groups.
State media reported that clashes between government forces and Druze militias killed at least one security member and wounded several others in Sweida province. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the death toll, citing Tal al-Hadeed heights as the location of the fighting.
Humanitarian conditions in Sweida remain dire, with residents calling for the road into the city to be fully opened due to inadequate aid. Tensions between Damascus and Sweida have led to a series of targeted sectarian attacks against the Druze minority, who are now skeptical of peaceful coexistence.
In the north, government-affiliated fighters clashed with SDF forces, resulting in injuries to civilians and soldiers on both sides. The SDF spokesperson attributed the clashes to “undisciplined factions” within government forces.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces conducted raids along the border with annexed Golan Heights, accusing suspects of involvement in weapons trafficking. Israel’s military activity has been a point of contention between Damascus and Jerusalem, with the two sides seeking a security arrangement through US-mediated talks.
Source: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/fresh-clashes-break-out-in-syria-as-interim-government-struggles-to-ease-factional-tensions