Syria’s de facto president Ahmad al-Sharaa fled Damascus with his family amid escalating Israeli airstrikes and deadly clashes between Druze and Bedouin tribes. Al Mayadeen reports on assassination attempts targeting key leaders and promises of intensified conflict in Sweida’s volatile region.

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On July 17, 2025, Al Mayadeen revealed that Ahmad al-Sharaa, Syria’s de facto president since January 2025, left Damascus with his family following a series of violent incidents escalating fears for his safety.

The departure comes amid intensified Israeli airstrikes targeting strategic Syrian positions and growing factional violence within southern Syria’s Sweida governorate. Al-Sharaa’s exit highlights the severe pressure faced by Syria’s fragile transitional government in this critical moment.

Local sources report that an Israeli air raid struck a convoy of tribal fighters traveling on the strategic Palmira-Homs highway , a critical supply line and a key artery in Syrian territory. This latest strike is part of a pattern of ongoing Israeli military aggression aimed at destabilizing Syria’s sovereignty and weakening its transitional government.

The persistent threat of such external attacks contributed decisively to President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s decision to leave Damascus, probably seeking safety for himself and his family amid fears of further Israeli incursions on the capital and surrounding areas.

Amid this external aggression, Al Mayadeen reports that a military unit unexpectedly seized control of Syria’s Radio and Television building in Damascus , a move signaling internal instability and challenges to governmental authority. Additionally, assassination attempts targeting three prominent figures in the transitional administration, including Defense Minister Marhaf Abu Qasra, reflect a coordinated attempt to undermine Syria’s leadership amid the crisis.

In southern Syria, violent clashes between Druze military factions and Bedouin tribal groups in western Sweida have dramatically escalated tensions. Al Mayadeen denounces a misleading media campaign falsely claiming Bedouin control over Sweida, which obscures the complex realities on the ground and foments division among communities.

Responding to the conflict, tribal groups from Daraa have declared a general mobilization in support of their kin in Sweida while opposing Druze factions , a move that risks expanding violence throughout southern Syria.

Beduinos atacan aldeas drusas en Suwayda, Siria. pic.twitter.com/Diek1TDWcE

— Media Oriente (@MediaOriente) July 17, 2025

The text reads: Bedouins attack Druze villages in Suwayda, Syria.

The situation is further complicated by communications blackouts in Sweida’s border areas, making independent verification difficult and raising concerns about an impending large-scale mobilization of armed tribal groups.

The flight of Syria’s de facto president Ahmad al-Sharaa amidst escalating Israeli attacks and internal unrest reveals the depth of the crisis confronting the transitional government. The combined pressures from foreign military aggression, targeted assassinations, and deepening sectarian violence threaten Syria’s path toward peace and stability.

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