A new Human Rights Watch (HRW) report says Syrian government forces and local Bedouin and Druze armed groups committed serious violations during clashes in Suwayda governorate in July 2025, including killings, kidnappings, abuse of civilians and destruction of property.
The report, released Jan. 15, found that abuses drove as many as 187,000 people from their homes and called on Syrian authorities to demonstrate their commitment to all Syrians by holding perpetrators accountable. HRW documented 86 apparent unlawful killings, including 67 Druze and 19 Bedouin civilians killed in or near their homes. The clashes erupted after a July 12 confrontation at a checkpoint, escalated on July 14, and lasted several days, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries.
Violations Across the Conflict
HRW said abuses spanned multiple categories of violations recognized under international law. Summary executions, outrages on personal dignity and arbitrary detentions occurred on both sides during the hostilities. Witnesses reported government security forces and allied Bedouin armed groups engaged in killings and looting, while Druze fighters carried out arbitrary detentions and attacks against civilians. The organization noted that forces on all sides fired on civilian vehicles trying to flee, killing at least 13 people in three separate incidents.
In addition to the armed violence, the report showed that armed groups and fighters from different communities carried out abuses amounting to grave violations of international humanitarian law. Acts such as mutilation of bodies, desecration of the dead and humiliating treatment of detainees shocked residents and underscored the widespread nature of the violence.
Calls for Accountability and Investigations
Adam Coogle, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, said the Syrian authorities must pursue justice at the highest levels for all involved parties. He warned that without comprehensive accountability, “the horrors of the past will be repeated.” The report said Syrian authorities initially condemned the violations on July 16 and pledged investigations, which have begun but remain ongoing. A committee formed to investigate requested an extension and has not issued final results.
Humanitarian needs remain severe in Suwayda, with restrictions on aid delivery and ongoing insecurity limiting access to food, shelter and medical care for displaced families. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimated that 93,000 people were displaced within a week of fighting and that total displacement reached about 187,000 by the end of the month.
Militia Violations Amid Ongoing Ceasefire
Since the intense July clashes, the ceasefire in Suwayda has been repeatedly violated. Groups loyal to Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, whose National Guard has operated outside formal state authority, have continued abuses, attacks and breaches of ceasefire terms, according to local reports. These militias coerce, extort and intimidate civilians while targeting military points and civilian areas, undermining efforts by Syrian state forces to maintain peace and facilitate humanitarian aid and evacuations.
The HRW report urged that security sector reforms and impartial investigations must include senior officials and commanders to break cycles of violence and provide meaningful justice for victims of the Suwayda conflict.
