Suwayda death toll reaches 248 as clashes rage
Heavy shelling and street battles have plunged the southern Syrian city of Suwayda into a deepening humanitarian emergency, with at least 248 people killed since fighting erupted on July 13, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on Wednesday.
The violence—pitting Druze factions against Bedouin gunmen and Syrian government forces—has spiraled despite a declared truce, which quickly collapsed as fighting resumed across several districts.
According to SOHR, regime troops bombarded Suwayda and neighboring Sahwat al-Balat overnight with artillery, mortars, and drones, hitting civilian areas and knocking out electricity and internet services. Key infrastructure remains crippled, exacerbating already dire conditions.
#المرصد_السوري لحقوق الإنسان يُناشد بفتح معابر إنسانية عاجلة تتيح للمدنيين مغادرة مناطق القصف في ظل التعتيم الإعلامي المتواصل وانقطاع شبكتي الكهرباء والإنترنت عن مختلف مناطق المحافظة https://t.co/YB8qlSIxWR
— المرصد السوري لحقوق الإنسان (@syriahr) July 16, 2025
Battles raged near Suwayda National Hospital, where medical teams have been working for over 72 hours without power or proper supplies, while snipers positioned along the Citadel–Tishreen Square corridor have cut off access to the facility, the watchdog cautioned.
The Observatory documented 71 civilian deaths—including four children and two women—alongside 156 government-aligned fighters, including 18 Bedouin combatants, with an additional 21 people reportedly executed by units linked to Syria's Defense and Interior Ministries.
Tishreen Square remains a focal point, with ongoing sniper fire and gun battles, SOHR reported, pointing to government trucks leaving the area loaded with personal belongings.
The escalation follows recent Israeli airstrikes on Suwayda and its outskirts. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Damascus, demanding regime forces withdraw from Druze-majority areas.
#المرصد_السوري بعد ساعات من التحليق في الجنوب السوري.. الطيران #الإسرائيلي يـ ـسـ ـتـ ـهـ ـدف آلية عسكرية بـ #السويداء https://t.co/wV45CgdEK7
— المرصد السوري لحقوق الإنسان (@syriahr) July 16, 2025
'Israel will not abandon the Druze community and will enforce our demilitarization policy,' he declared, adding that Tel Aviv would continue targeting regime positions and would escalate operations if Damascus fails to comply.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Shafaq News
Iraq records slight decline in poverty rate
Shafaq News – Baghdad (Updated at 14:06) Iraqi Minister of Planning Mohammed Tamim revealed a modest drop in the national poverty rate of almost 1%. Speaking at a press conference to announce the release of the National Multidimensional Poverty Index Report, Tamim said the report was developed in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and is based on the findings of the national household social survey, which served as a key foundation for constructing Iraq's poverty index. 'The poverty rate in the country declined from 11.3% to 10.8% and continues to decrease gradually,' he noted. أطلقت #الحكومة_العراقية ، بالشراكة مع برنامج الأمم المتحدة الإنمائي ومبادرة أكسفورد للفقر والتنمية البشرية، رسمياً التقرير التحليلي لمؤشر الفقر متعدد الأبعاد في #العراق ، مُمثلةً بذلك خطوةً كبيرةً إلى الأمام في كيفية فهم البلاد للفقر ومعالجته.(1/2) — UNDP Iraq (@undpiniraq) July 30, 2025 The minister also announced plans to launch a gender-specific Multidimensional Poverty Index focused on women, 'making Iraq among the first countries in the world to issue a national-level report of this kind.' In turn, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Sascha Graumann acknowledged Iraq's progress but emphasized the need to address persistent deprivation in provinces like al-Muthanna, Maysan, and Saladin, despite improvements in areas such as Baghdad and Kirkuk. 'Now that material poverty is beginning to decline, it is time to ensure that no region, woman, or community in Iraq is left behind,' Graumann stressed. A separate index focusing on child poverty is also being developed, based on data from the upcoming general census.
Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Shafaq News
President Barzani praises Qatar's stability role
Shafaq News – Erbil Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met, on Wednesday, with Qatari Consul General Hussein bin Ali Al-Fadala to mark the end of his diplomatic mission in the Region. According to the Kurdistan Region Presidency, Barzani praised Doha's role in promoting regional stability, wishing Al-Fadala success in future roles. In turn, Al-Fadala expressed appreciation for the support he received during his tenure, affirming Qatar's commitment to expanding cooperation with both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Shafaq News
President Barzani: Drone strikes threaten Iraq's economy
Shafaq News – Erbil Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani warned on Wednesday that repeated drone attacks on the Region's oil infrastructure pose a serious threat not only to local stability but also to Iraq's broader economy. According to the Kurdish Presidency, Barzani's met in Erbil with Vice Admiral Edward Algren, the United Kingdom's Senior Defence Advisor for the Middle East and North Africa. The discussions centered on Iraq's security, relations between Erbil and Baghdad, and the wider regional situation. — Kurdistan Region Presidency (@KurdistanRegion) July 30, 2025 Barzani emphasized the continuing danger posed by ISIS, describing the group as 'a real and direct threat to the stability and security of Iraq and Syria.' He also urged swift measures to halt drone strikes targeting vital economic facilities in the Kurdistan Region. Algren reaffirmed the UK's commitment to enhancing cooperation with both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. He underlined London's 'strong interest in the security and stability of the Region' and pledged continued British support in counterterrorism and security coordination. The meeting also addressed Iraq's federal structure, the Kurdistan Region's relations with allied nations, the situation in Syria, the rights of Kurds and other communities, as well as recent developments in Turkiye's peace process.
