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Türkiye on Monday expressed hope that violence in southern Syria would be “swiftly” resolved through local-level dialogue initiated by the Syrian government.
“We hope that the violent incidents occurring in southern Syria will be swiftly brought to an end through local-level dialogue by the Syrian government and that security will be established,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli said in a statement.
Keceli’s remarks followed deadly armed clashes between Bedouin tribal fighters and Druze militias in the southern Syrian governorate of Sweida.
“Syria’s sovereignty and unity should be the priority in this process,” Keceli said.
“Türkiye, together with responsible stakeholders of the international community, will continue to support efforts to strengthen stability and promote reconciliation in Syria,” he added..
More than 30 people were killed and nearly 100 others injured during the clashes, according to initial reports from Syria’s Interior Ministry on Monday.
The ministry voiced deep concern and sorrow over the “bloody developments” that unfolded late Sunday between “local armed groups and tribes” in the Al-Maqous area of Sweida.
“In this context, the Interior Ministry confirms that units of its forces, in coordination with the Defense Ministry, will intervene directly in the region to resolve the conflict, stop clashes, impose security, prosecute those responsible for the events, and refer them to the competent judiciary,” the ministry said.
Early Monday, Syrian security forces launched a security operation in Sweida to restore order after the violence between Druze and Bedouin groups.
Local sources speaking to Turkish news agency Anadolu said the fighting began when rival armed groups seized vehicles from one another, triggering a rapid escalation involving medium and heavy weapons.
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Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia in December, ending the Baath Party’s rule, which had been in place since 1963.
A transitional administration led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa was formed in January.
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