Syria’s armed Bedouins withdraw from Druze-majority city after weeklong fighting

Armed Bedouin clans withdrew from the Druze‑majority city of Sweida on Sunday after a week of deadly clashes with Druze militias and a U.S.-brokered ceasefire. The fighting, sparked by kidnappings and escalating sectarian violence, killed hundreds and displaced over 128,000 people. Israel launched airstrikes in the region, and Syrian government forces intervened intermittently. Humanitarian aid convoys began entering the battered city amid cautious calm. Tensions remain high, with Bedouin fighters demanding the surrender of Druze leader Sheikh Hikmat al‑Hijri, whom they blame for the unrest, ABC News has reported. The violence has deepened Druze skepticism toward Syria’s post‑Assad leadership.