Fresh Clashes Erupt in Syria as Interim Government Struggles to Maintain Control

Beirut, August 4, 2025 — New outbreaks of violence have rocked Syria, highlighting the fragility of the interim government’s authority under President Ahmad al-Sharaa. The clashes, which erupted overnight into Sunday, occurred at two key flashpoints: the southern province of Sweida and the northern Aleppo province, straining a tense ceasefire and raising doubts about the government’s ability to unify the country.

In Sweida, government forces clashed with militias from the Druze religious minority at the strategic Tal al-Hadeed heights, overlooking Daraa province. According to state-run Alikhbaria channel, the violence began when Druze factions attacked Syrian security forces, killing at least one member. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, reported that one Druze fighter was also killed, with at least nine others wounded. The clashes follow months of tensions between Damascus and Sweida, exacerbated by earlier violence in July that displaced tens of thousands and involved Druze militias and government-backed Bedouin clans. Residents of Sweida have criticized the interim government for insufficient aid, with state media reporting that convoys are entering the city but failing to meet humanitarian needs.

In northern Aleppo, government-affiliated fighters confronted the U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The Defense Ministry claimed three civilians and four soldiers were wounded after the SDF launched rockets near Manbij, while SDF spokesperson Farhad Shami countered that the group was responding to shelling by “undisciplined factions” within government forces. The eastern part of Aleppo straddles areas controlled by both the government and the SDF, complicating efforts to implement a ceasefire and reintegrate northeastern Syria under Damascus’ control.

The interim government, led by al-Sharaa since ousting former President Bashar Assad in December 2024, faces deep skepticism from political opponents and ethnic and religious minorities wary of its Islamist-leaning rule and ties to militant groups. The fall of Assad, who fled to Moscow, ended over five decades of his family’s autocratic rule but left a power vacuum that has fueled factional strife. Previous supporters like Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah have provided minimal support to the Syrian Arab Army during recent rebel offensives, further weakening central authority.

Adding to the complexity, Israel has intensified military operations in southern Syria, including a recent ground operation in Quneitra province near the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, targeting alleged weapons trafficking in the village of Hader. Israel’s actions, including an airstrike on Damascus’ Defense Ministry headquarters, have drawn criticism from the Syrian government, though U.S.-mediated talks continue to seek a security arrangement. Syria has repeatedly stated it does not intend to take military action against Israel.

The violence underscores the challenges facing al-Sharaa’s administration as it navigates a delicate balance between enforcing control and addressing the concerns of diverse factions. Past peace efforts, including UN-backed Geneva talks and Russia-initiated Astana negotiations, have failed to resolve the conflict, which has persisted since 2011. With humanitarian conditions in Sweida described as dire and ongoing tensions in Aleppo, the interim government’s path to stability remains uncertain.

As Syria grapples with these fresh clashes, the international community watches closely, with the potential for further escalation threatening to destabilize the region further.