What in the World Syria: What’s behind the Druze-Bedouin conflict?
Jul 23, 2025
Tess Mallinder Heron, a Middle East specialist from BBC Monitoring, dives into the escalating Druze-Bedouin conflict in southern Syria. She discusses the historical roots of these communities and the ongoing violence fueled by sectarian tensions and economic woes. The conversation highlights Israel's strategic involvement and its demand for Druze safety amid fragile ceasefire attempts. Tess also sheds light on the challenges facing the new Syrian government and the precarious situation for minority rights in a post-Assad landscape.
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Druze Minority Background
- The Druze are an Arabic-speaking religious minority with about half a million in Syria, following an offshoot of Shia Islam.
- They gained relative autonomy under Assad and resisted full integration into the new government or army.
Who are the Bedouins?
- The Bedouins are nomadic Arab tribes primarily Sunni Muslim, traditionally moving across the Middle East and North Africa.
- In Syria, many have settled but preserved their Bedouin cultural traditions.
Shift in Syrian Power Dynamics
- The new power in Syria is HTS, an Islamist militant Sunni Muslim group now leading.
- The Assad regime was dominated by the Alawite minority, which fears retaliation under the new government.