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50,000 Arab Tribal Fighters Mobilize Near Sweida to Defend Bedouin Clans
Massive tribal mobilization amid growing violence in southern Syria

On Thursday, Arab tribes across Syria announced a general mobilization in response to urgent pleas from Bedouin tribes in Sweida province, located in the country’s south.
In a statement obtained by the German News Agency (DPA), the tribes expressed grave concern over what they described as "acts of genocide" perpetrated by militias loyal to Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri. These militias have reportedly carried out killings and forced displacement targeting Bedouin communities.
The statement called on the Syrian government to avoid interfering with the movements of tribal fighters arriving from outside the area, emphasizing that their mission is to defend the oppressed and protect civilians—especially women, children, and the elderly—from aggression.
The tribes warned that any action against their fighters would be interpreted as siding with the perpetrators and would carry moral and historical responsibility. They reaffirmed their full support for the fighters and vowed a united response to any threat.
Field reports indicate that tribal forces have launched an assault on Sweida city from the north via the Damascus road, gaining control over several villages and towns, most notably the town of al-Mazraa. According to sources within the tribal forces, more than 50,000 fighters are actively involved, with tens of thousands more expected to arrive from eastern Syria and the Aleppo countryside by dawn on Friday.
A total of 41 tribes and clans are said to be participating in the conflict, collectively representing over 70% of Syria’s population. Reports also suggest that Arab tribes in Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon are preparing to join the battle after tribal members issued appeals to King Abdullah II of Jordan and tribal leaders in Iraq's Anbar province.
According to tribal sources, Thursday’s clashes with militias loyal to Sheikh al-Hijri resulted in over 100 deaths, with tens of thousands displaced from their villages and many homes set on fire.
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Sweida Syria Arab tribes Syria conflict Tribal fighters Bedouin Syria Middle East news Hikmat al-Hijri