Latest news with #RayanMarouf
News24
a day ago
- Politics
- News24
30 killed in Syria, raising fears of country ‘heading toward to a bloodbath'
More than 30 people were killed as sectarian fighting erupted in Sweida, Syria. Sweida is the capital of the majority Druze province. Fears are increasing for minority groups following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad. More than 30 people were killed and 100 injured in armed clashes in Syria's predominantly Druze city of Sweida, the Syrian interior ministry said early on Monday, in the latest bout of sectarian clashes. The violence erupted after a wave of kidnappings, including the abduction of a Druze merchant on Friday on the highway linking Damascus to Sweida, witnesses said. This is the first time sectarian fighting has erupted inside the city of Sweida itself, the provincial capital of the mostly Druze province. Last April saw clashes between Sunni fighters and armed Druze residents of Jaramana, southeast of Damascus, which later spread to another district near the provincial capital. 'This cycle of violence has exploded in a terrifying way and if it doesn't end we are heading toward to a bloodbath,' said Rayan Marouf, a Druze researcher based in Sweida who runs the Suwayda24 website. The clashes involving Bedouin tribal fighters and Druze militias were centred in Maqwas neighbourhood east of Sweida, which is inhabited by Bedouin tribes, and was encircled by armed Druze groups and later seized. The Syrian ministry of interior said that its forces will begin direct intervention in Sweida to resolve the conflict, calling on local parties in the Druze city to cooperate with the security forces. Armed Bedouin tribesmen also launched attacks on Druze villages on the western and north outskirts of the city, residents said. A medical source told Reuters that at least 15 bodies had been taken to the morgue at Sweida's state hospital. Around 50 people were injured, with some transported to Deraa city for medical care. The violence marked the latest episode of sectarian bloodshed in Syria, where fears among minority groups have surged since Islamist-led rebels toppled President Bashar al-Assad in December, installing their own government and security forces. Those concerns intensified following the killing of hundreds of Alawites in March, in apparent retaliation for an earlier attack carried out by Assad loyalists. It was the deadliest sectarian flare-up in years in Syria, where a 14-year civil war ended last December with Assad fleeing to Russia after his government was overthrown by rebel forces.
Dubai Eye
2 days ago
- Politics
- Dubai Eye
30 killed, 100 injured in sectarian clashes in Syria's Sweida
At least 30 people were killed and 100 injured in Syria's predominantly Druze city of Sweida amid escalating sectarian violence between Druze gunmen and Bedouin tribes, according to the country's interior ministry. In a report by Reuters, the clashes erupted following a wave of kidnappings, including the abduction of a Druze merchant on Friday along the highway connecting Damascus to Sweida, according to witnesses. The ministry said its forces will begin direct intervention in Sweida to resolve the conflict, calling on local parties in the Druze city to cooperate with the security forces. Unlike similar clashes last April — which involved Bedouin fighters and armed Druze residents in Jaramana, southeast of Damascus and later spread to other districts — this is the first time fighting has broken out inside Sweida itself, the provincial capital of the mostly Druze region. 'This is the first time sectarian fighting has erupted within the city of Sweida. The cycle of violence has exploded in a terrifying way, and if it doesn't end soon, we are heading toward a bloodbath,' said Rayan Marouf, a Druze researcher based in Sweida who runs the Suwayda24 news platform. The fighting centered in the Maqwas neighbourhood, east of Sweida, which is home to several Bedouin families. The area was reportedly surrounded and later seized by armed Druze groups. Meanwhile, Bedouin tribesmen launched attacks on Druze villages on the western and northern outskirts of the city, residents said. A medical source at Sweida's state hospital confirmed that at least 15 bodies had been brought to the morgue. Around 50 others were injured, with some transferred to the nearby city of Deraa for treatment. The violence marks the latest in a series of sectarian flashpoints in Syria, where tensions among minority communities have remained high since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in December and the rise of new governing authorities. Those concerns have intensified following the killings of hundreds of Alawites in March. This was the deadliest sectarian flare-up in years in Sweida and one of the most violent episodes since the end of Syria's civil war last December.
ARN News Center
2 days ago
- Politics
- ARN News Center
30 killed, 100 injured in sectarian clashes in Syria's Sweida
At least 30 people were killed and 100 injured in Syria's predominantly Druze city of Sweida amid escalating sectarian violence between Druze gunmen and Bedouin tribes, according to the country's interior ministry. In a report by Reuters, the clashes erupted following a wave of kidnappings, including the abduction of a Druze merchant on Friday along the highway connecting Damascus to Sweida, according to witnesses. The ministry said its forces will begin direct intervention in Sweida to resolve the conflict, calling on local parties in the Druze city to cooperate with the security forces. Unlike similar clashes last April — which involved Bedouin fighters and armed Druze residents in Jaramana, southeast of Damascus and later spread to other districts — this is the first time fighting has broken out inside Sweida itself, the provincial capital of the mostly Druze region. 'This is the first time sectarian fighting has erupted within the city of Sweida. The cycle of violence has exploded in a terrifying way, and if it doesn't end soon, we are heading toward a bloodbath,' said Rayan Marouf, a Druze researcher based in Sweida who runs the Suwayda24 news platform. The fighting centered in the Maqwas neighbourhood, east of Sweida, which is home to several Bedouin families. The area was reportedly surrounded and later seized by armed Druze groups. Meanwhile, Bedouin tribesmen launched attacks on Druze villages on the western and northern outskirts of the city, residents said. A medical source at Sweida's state hospital confirmed that at least 15 bodies had been brought to the morgue. Around 50 others were injured, with some transferred to the nearby city of Deraa for treatment. The violence marks the latest in a series of sectarian flashpoints in Syria, where tensions among minority communities have remained high since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in December and the rise of new governing authorities. Those concerns have intensified following the killings of hundreds of Alawites in March. This was the deadliest sectarian flare-up in years in Sweida and one of the most violent episodes since the end of Syria's civil war last December.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
More than 30 killed in sectarian clashes in Syria's Sweida, interior ministry says
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox AMMAN - More than 30 people were killed and 100 injured in armed clashes in Syria's predominantly Druze city of Sweida, the Syrian interior ministry said early on Monday, in the latest bout of sectarian clashes. The violence erupted after a wave of kidnappings, including the abduction of a Druze merchant on Friday on the highway linking Damascus to Sweida, witnesses said. This is the first time sectarian fighting has erupted inside the city of Sweida itself, the provincial capital of the mostly Druze province. Last April saw clashes between Sunni fighters and armed Druze residents of Jaramana, southeast of Damascus, which later spread to another district near the provincial capital. "This cycle of violence has exploded in a terrifyng way and if it doesn't end we are heading toward to a bloodbath," said Rayan Marouf, a Druze researcher based in Sweida who runs the Suwayda24 website. The clashes involving Bedouin tribal fighters and Druze militias were centered in Maqwas neighborhood east of Sweida, which is inhabited by Bedouin tribes, and was encircled by armed Druze groups and later seized. The Syrian ministry of interior said that its forces will begin direct intervention in Sweida to resolve the conflict, calling on local parties in the Druze city to cooperate with the security forces. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business Singapore's economy sees surprise expansion in Q2 despite US tariff uncertainty: Advance estimate Singapore Singapore to train more aviation and maritime officials from around the world Singapore What's in a name? Local author traces the evolution of Singaporean Chinese names Business From wellness zone to neurodivergent room: How companies are creating inviting, inclusive offices Singapore Swift action needed to stop vaping's slide from health risk to drug epidemic Singapore Govt will continue to support families, including growing group of seniors: PM Wong at PCF Family Day Singapore Art by Pathlight students to be displayed along Singapore River Sport Jannik Sinner dethrones Carlos Alcaraz to capture maiden Wimbledon crown Armed Bedouin tribesmen also launched attacks on Druze villages on the western and north outskirts of the city, residents said. A medical source told Reuters that at least 15 bodies had been taken to the morgue at Sweida's state hospital. Around 50 people were injured, with some transported to Deraa city for medical care. The violence marked the latest episode of sectarian bloodshed in Syria, where fears among minority groups have surged since Islamist-led rebels toppled President Bashar al-Assad in December, installing their own government and security forces. Those concerns intensified following the killing of hundreds of Alawites in March, in apparent retaliation for an earlier attack carried out by Assad loyalists. It was the deadliest sectarian flare-up in years in Syria, where a 14-year civil war ended last December with Assad fleeing to Russia after his government was overthrown by rebel forces. REUTERS
AsiaOne
2 days ago
- Politics
- AsiaOne
At least 15 killed in sectarian clashes in Syria's Sweida, Asia News
AMMAN — More than fifteen people were killed and dozens injured in Syria's predominantly Druze city of Sweida in the latest bout of sectarian clashes between Druze gunmen and Bedouin Sunni tribes, witnesses said on Sunday (July 13). The violence erupted after a wave of kidnappings, including the abduction of a Druze merchant on Friday on the highway linking Damascus to Sweida, witnesses said. Unlike similar clashes last April, which pitted Sunni fighters against armed Druze residents of Jaramana, southeast of Damascus, and later spread to another district near the capital-this is the first time the fighting has erupted inside the city of Sweida itself, the provincial capital of the mostly Druze province. "This is the first time sectarian fighting has erupted within the city of Sweida. This cycle of violence has exploded in a terrifyng way and if it doesn't end we are heading toward to a bloodbath," said Rayan Marouf, a Druze researcher based in Sweida who runs the Suwayda24 website. The clashes, involving Bedouin tribal fighters and Druze militias, were centred in Maqwas neighbourhood east of Sweida which is inhabited by Bedouin tribes, which was encircled by armed Druze groups and later seized. Armed Bedouin tribesmen also launched attacks on Druze villages on the western and north outskirts of the city, residents said. A medical source told Reuters that at least 15 bodies had been taken to the morgue at Sweida's state hospital. Around 50 people were injured, with some transported to Deraa city for medical care. The violence marked the latest episode of sectarian bloodshed in Syria, where fears among minority groups have surged since Islamist-led rebels toppled President Bashar al-Assad in December, installing their own government and security forces. Those concerns intensified following the killing of hundreds of Alawites in March, in apparent retaliation for an earlier attack carried out by Assad loyalists. It was the deadliest sectarian flare-up in years in Syria, where a 14-year civil war ended last December with Assad fleeing to Russia after his government was overthrown by rebel forces. [[nid:720147]]
