Since Sunday, July 13, the southern Syrian province of Sweida has witnessed a devastating wave of violence, marking one of the gravest escalations in recent years. Sweida, predominantly home to the Druze community, had long maintained a fragile autonomy, largely spared from the direct control of Damascus and the tumult of the broader Syrian conflict. But this tenuous peace was shattered when heavy clashes erupted between residents and government-aligned Bedouin militias, accompanied by a renewed push from the Syrian interim government to reassert authority over the city. The violence and conflict have escalated further following illegal Israeli strikes in Sweida, and Damascus. Israel’s strikes were carried out under the pretext of support for the Druze community, as explained in a statement by Israel’s Defense Minister.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 203 people have been killed, including children, women, and elderly civilians. The toll is thought to be higher as many families are unable to reach hospitals due to ongoing fighting, and bodies reportedly lie in homes and streets, yet to be recovered. In addition to the human casualties, there have been alarming reports of public executions, acts of humiliation, including forced shaving of Druze clergymen’s beards, widespread looting of shops, and drone and mortar bombardments that have terrorized entire neighborhoods.
Over the past few days, Femena has spoken to several women human rights defenders and activists from within Sweida and the diaspora. They shared with us how they have been living through this ordeal — stories that reflect not only the brutal impact of the current violence but also deeper patterns of sectarian targeting, gender-based violence, and intense fear among minority communities.