Arab tribes vow to “liberate” Suwayda, Qamishli as clashes escalate in southern Syria PHOTO

Violent confrontations between Druze militias and Arab tribal forces continue to grip the southern Syrian city of As-Suwayda, despite a formally declared ceasefire. Tensions remain high as both sides accuse each other of atrocities, and the conflict threatens to expand to other regions.

The withdrawal of Syrian government forces from As-Suwayda has left a volatile vacuum. In response to widely circulated footage allegedly showing Druze militants committing mass killings, Arab tribes have deployed over 100,000 fighters to the area. Despite the truce, attacks attributed to groups led by Al-Hajiri have persisted, escalating fears of broader conflict, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media.Mudar Hamad, President of the High Council of Arab Tribes and Clans, issued a stark warning, stating that Arab tribal forces will not retreat until those responsible for the bloodshed in As-Suwayda are brought to justice.

“We have more than 400 martyrs. Women have been raped, Arab homes have been burned and destroyed. All of this was done with the support of Israel and the PKK-YPG. We will first liberate Suwayda, then Qamishli, and all our lands under occupation. The separatist Druze, who turned the region into a fireball with Israel's provocation, have committed the most despicable crimes in the world. These killers, led by Hikmet al-Hajiri, were already accomplices of Assad. For years, they have been smuggling people, weapons, and drugs across the Lebanese border. With the revolution, all their interests have been disrupted," he stated.

Hamad went on to underscore the significance of Türkiye’s ongoing counterterrorism operations and linked regional instability to external and separatist forces.

“Until the PKK is crushed, there will be no peace or stability in Iraq, Syria, or Türkiye. There are two centers of discord in the region: Tel Aviv and Qandil, as well as its offshoot — the terrorist camps. The Erdoğan administration has largely eradicated this disease within Türkiye. However, the threat level in Syria, Iran, and Iraq increases by the day. It was the PKK/YPG that trained Alawite and Druze gangs,” he asserted.

Calling for deeper military cooperation with Türkiye, Hamad emphasized the strategic necessity of a comprehensive defence accord.

"We will not leave the region until Suwayda achieves stability. Afterwards, our direction will be Qamishli and all the towns occupied by the PKK. This struggle is not just a city war; it is a clear message from the Syrian people against external and internal forces that want to fragment their country," he stated.

“Our primary expectation after December 8 was a comprehensive agreement on defense and military cooperation with Türkiye. Only in this way can we be safe from Israel and its accomplices, including the PKK/YPG. We demand that Mr. Erdoğan and Mr. Al-Sharaa urgently finalize such an agreement. We will save our people from the PKK/YPG virus. Let everyone be certain: the tribes have the strength and the will to eradicate this tumor from Syrian lands,” Hamad concluded.

By Vafa Guliyeva