Sweida residents accuse Damascus of imposing shortages after 2025 clashes

Sweida, a largely Druze city in southern Syria, has been isolated since July 2025 clashes that left over 2,000 dead, including 789 Druze civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Government troops and allied tribal groups intervened on the side of Bedouin fighters, after which Damascus withdrew, leaving a tenuous cease-fire. Since then, the main road to the capital is sporadically blocked, and authorities deny imposing a siege despite reports of trucks being turned away.

Residents like baker Hoda Kiwan and carpenter Adham al-Qutaini describe acute shortages of flour, fuel and electricity, with power outages lasting up to ten days. Fuel price hikes have further strained livelihoods, while Druze armed groups led by Hikmat al-Hijri push for full independence, even claiming ties to Israel. A trilateral roadmap involving Syria, Jordan and the United States was announced last year but has not resolved the humanitarian crisis.