Updates from the field
Massacre in Syria’s Druze Heartland
Shai Fund acts after the targeted campaign against religious minorities
July 23, 2025 | by Charmaine Hedding
On July 11, a roadside robbery on the Damascus–Suweida highway ignited one of the deadliest attacks against Syria’s Druze community in over a decade. In the days that followed, more than 1,265 Druze civilians were killed in a coordinated assault by extremist Bedouin militias and regime forces aligned with Syria’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Villages were overrun. Homes were looted and burned. Sacred khalwas were desecrated. Community elders were executed. Thousands fled with nothing. Families are now sheltering under trees. Clinics and hospitals have been overwhelmed, some directly targeted in the violence. The attacks were not random. They were calculated and aimed at erasing one of the oldest religious communities in the region.
Emergency Aid Reaches Families Amid the Ruins
In response to this latest crisis, Shai Fund has acted swiftly.
With long-standing relationships in the region and trusted local partners on the ground, Shai Fund was able to reach affected areas in Suwayda and deliver emergency relief. Over the past week, support has been provided to 275 Druze families who were displaced or directly impacted by the violence. Aid included food staples like rice, bulgur, and oil for cooking and medical supplies.
The violence erupted just weeks after the suicide bombing at Mar Elias Church in Damascus and the mass killing of Alawite civilians in Latakia earlier this year, a brutal reminder that Syria’s religious minorities are being targeted in increasingly bold and systematic ways. The violence in Suwayda is not incidental; it is part of a larger campaign to dismantle the country’s religious and cultural mosaic.
The rapid mobilization in Suwayda underscores Shai Fund’s commitment to defending religious freedom and preserving the presence of Syria’s ancient communities. Where the international response has been slow or absent, local engagement has made it possible to act in real time and save lives.
Charmaine Hedding, President of Shai Fund, stated, “What is happening in Suweida is a test of whether Syria can become a nation that protects the dignity and rights of all its people. As we deliver emergency aid to those affected, we stand in solidarity with the Druze community and call for a future built on equal citizenship for all Syrians.”
More Help Is Urgently Needed
While 275 families have been reached, many more remain in urgent need. We are actively expanding our operations and coordinating with additional partners to meet the rising humanitarian demand.
Our commitment is long-term: to stand with Syria’s most vulnerable communities not only in moments of crisis, but in the long journey toward justice, dignity, and inclusion.
