Syria seeks balance in Sweida amid Druze-Bedouin clashes, Israeli strikes
In the wake of the clashes between Bedouin and Druze in the southern Syrian area of Sweida in early July, the Syrian government is seeking to balance the interests of its supporters with pragmatic moves in southern Syria.
This is complex because the Syrian government is wary of provoking more airstrikes by Israel. Israel carried out strikes on Damascus in response to attacks on the Druze. Now Syria is trying to shore up support again, but Damascus knows that it is being watched closely.
The Syrian Information Minister, Hamza al-Mustafa, 'reiterated that humanitarian aid convoys heading to Sweida have not stopped, expressing his hope that their delivery will not be obstructed by any outlaw group seeking to exploit the people's suffering for their own isolationist purposes,' Syrian state media said on July 28.
'Since the beginning of tragic events, humanitarian aid convoys have been trying to reach Sweida province for all those waiting for support during this difficult time', al-Mustafa wrote on social media.
'We sincerely hope that these convoys will not be obstructed by outlaws seeking to exploit our people's suffering for their own purposes,' he added. He also said the state remains committed to the people of Sweida.
While Damascus is wary of Sweida, essentially viewing it as off-limits for the time being, it is focusing on other parts of southernSyria. Dara'a province is important. It is one of the places where the Syrian rebellion began in 2011. It is mostly a Sunni Arab province between Damascus and Jordan. It also borders Quneitra and the Golan.
Thus, it is a key stronghold of pro-Damascus supporters that sits between Israel and the Druze, and between Damascus and Jordan.
Jordan is a key regional partner of Syria and has been critical of Israel's actions in support of the Druze. Many of the people in northern Jordan are from the same Sunni Arab tribes and clans that live in southern Syria.
Syrian state media SANA noted on July 27 that 'a medical team from the Syrian American Medical Association (SAMS) visited the shelter in Khirbet Ghazaleh, eastern countryside of Daraa, on Saturday and provided medical services to a number of refugees from Sweida province, as part of strengthening the health response and alleviating their suffering amid the current humanitarian conditions.'
SAMS has played an important role
SAMS has played a key role in Syria over the last years in support of Syrians. The report added that 'Dr. Yarub al-Zoubi, head of the Public Health Programs Department at the Health Directorate, said that the visit comes within a coordination plan between the Health Directorate and partner organizations in the health sector to secure primary care for arrivals, noting that the Directorate monitors the health conditions in shelters on a daily basis and works to support them by sending mobile teams and providing the necessary vaccines, preventive, and therapeutic services.'
Syria is also doing regional outreach. It sent a team from the Defense Ministry to Turkey and also has been doing outreach to Saudi Arabia. The Saudi newspaper al-Riyadh recently wrote about the importance of Syria's restoration of its role in the Arab world. It also opposed foreign intervention in Syria. In addition, Syria recently signed an energy deal with Riyadh.
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