Syria forms panel to probe Druze-Sunni communal clashes in Sweida

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19 hours ago

The panel comes amid ongoing efforts by the post-Assad government to stabilise the country and address sectarian tensions that have plagued it since the 2011 uprising. read more
A drone view shows the predominantly Druze city of Sweida, following deadly clashes between Druze fighters, Sunni Bedouin tribes and government forces, in Syria. File image/ Reuters
Syria has promised to look into clashes that killed hundreds of people in the southern province of Sweida last month. This was the second significant instance of sectarian violence since Bashar al-Assad, the long-time leader of Syria, was overthrown.
In a July 31 decree, Justice Minister Muzher al-Wais stated that a seven-member commission of judges, attorneys, and a military official would investigate the circumstances surrounding the 'events in Sweida' and provide a report in three months.
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The committee would look into allegations of assaults and other mistreatment of civilians and report anyone found to have taken part in such actions to the legal system.
The conflict in Sweida began on July 13 between tribal warriors and Druze factions. The conflict escalated despite the deployment of government forces to stop it, and Israel launched attacks on Syrian troops in the name of the Druze.
A minority branch of Islam, the Druze have followers in Israel, Syria, and Lebanon. Although Sunni tribes and Druze make up the majority of the population in Sweida province, there have long been conflicts between the groups over land and other resources.
The violence, which had raged in Sweida city and adjacent towns for almost a week, came to an end with a truce mediated by the United States.
In March, hundreds of Alawite civilians were killed after government-aligned forces deployed to Syria's coastal areas following a deadly attack on new government forces by militias still aligned with Assad, who hails from the Alawite minority.
Assad's brutal crackdown on protests against him in 2011 from within Syria's Sunni majority spiralled into a nearly 14-year war. Western leaders are keen to ensure the new government, led by a former Sunni Islamist group that has its roots in global jihad, conducts an orderly democratic transition.
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The fact-finding committee established after the March killings last month referred 298 people suspected of carrying out abuses against Alawites to the judiciary.
The committee said it found no evidence of commanders ordering troops to commit violations and that 265 people had been involved in the initial attack on government forces.