Scattered Clashes Between Security Forces and Armed Men in the Countryside of Sweida

The countryside of Sweida province in southern Syria witnessed intermittent clashes today, Saturday, August 16, between elements of the internal security forces and local armed men, according to what the "Al-Arabiya" website reported from informed sources.

The sources indicated that the clashes occurred in several rural axes, most notably in Arika, Qarasah, and Dama, despite the relative calm that the province has been experiencing.

These developments came one day after the governor of Sweida, Mustafa Al-Bakur, called for "reconciliation between the tribes and the people of the province, and prioritizing reason, in order to enhance civil peace," emphasizing the "importance of maintaining reconciliation among the people of the area and rejecting sedition."

It is noteworthy that the province witnessed bloody confrontations on July 13 that lasted for a week between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribes, which prompted government security forces to intervene to stop the clashes that led to the displacement of nearly 200,000 people, according to United Nations estimates.

Relative calm has prevailed in Sweida since July 19, following a ceasefire agreement that ended the previous clashes which left hundreds of casualties.

Residents and observers are following the developments in the region, amid fears of renewed violence and official assurances on the necessity of maintaining stability.