DAMASCUS — Intense clashes have broken out in Syria’s southern Sweida province after so-called "outlawed" factions breached a recently agreed-upon ceasefire, according to a Syrian security official cited by state media on Sunday, August 3, 2025.

The state broadcaster al-Ikhbariya reported that these outlawed groups—commonly associated with Druze fighters in the predominantly Druze region—launched assaults against internal security forces and shelled multiple villages across the rural areas of Sweida earlier that day. The violence resulted in the death of one security personnel and injuries to several others.

This escalation comes amid efforts by Syria’s interim government to reestablish order and restore fundamental services in the conflict-affected province. The security source also highlighted that the resurgence of hostilities has impeded the progress of humanitarian convoys delivering vital aid to the local population.

Separately, Lebanon-based Sham TV, citing local eyewitnesses, reported significant Israeli military aircraft activity above parts of Daraa and Sweida provinces. The outlet also confirmed heavy fighting involving Druze fighters, Bedouin tribal militias, and government security units in the western countryside of Sweida, although details on casualties remain undisclosed.

On July 19, interim leader Ahmad al-Sharaa declared a ceasefire in Sweida following a period marked by severe sectarian conflict and Israeli airstrikes. The agreement stipulated the withdrawal of interim government forces from the area, entrusting local groups and Druze religious authorities to oversee security moving forward.

In recent days, coordinated humanitarian operations by United Nations agencies and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent have successfully routed multiple aid convoys into Sweida, aiming to address urgent shortages and support communities affected by ongoing instability.

This renewed violence underscores the fragile nature of peace attempts in this strategically sensitive region of Syria.