Clashes between security forces and Druze in Syria: 10 wounded

Ten members of the security forces affiliated with Syria's de facto government were wounded in clashes with armed groups in the Suwayda region in the south, where the Druze minority is concentrated. The incident occurred a day after clashes in the same area left two civilians dead. Security sources stated that personnel were wounded while responding to attacks on targets along the Tal Hantit and Walgha axes.\n\nDruze militias still control the city of Suwayda and its surroundings, refusing to recognize the sovereignty of the Central government, which has sought to establish authority since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in late 2024. The region remains one of the last areas outside government control in a Syria still fragmented after 13 years of civil war.\n\nThe "National Guard" organization, led by Druze leader Hikmat al-Hijri, claimed that government forces targeted innocents with "deadly" and "indiscriminate" fire using artillery and heavy machine guns, wounding at least one child. The group warned that the attacks would not go unanswered and would be met with an appropriate response, signaling a potential escalation in tensions.