Regime Faction Ousted from Syria’s Sweida after Intense Fighting

The headquarters of the Fajr forces during the clashes. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The headquarters of the Fajr forces during the clashes. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Regime Faction Ousted from Syria’s Sweida after Intense Fighting

The headquarters of the Fajr forces during the clashes. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The headquarters of the Fajr forces during the clashes. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Clashes between gunmen supporting the Damascus regime and others opposed to it in the majority-Druze southern province of Sweida killed at least 17 people this week.

The clashes erupted on Tuesday in two villages in northern Sweida when a regime faction, the “Fajr” forces, carried out an abduction.

Tensions had already been high in the area between locals and the faction, which is led by Raji Falhout.

The tensions boiled over in wake of the abduction, sparking clashes between the faction and various local armed groups.

In the end, the groups managed to seize the Fajr’s military headquarters in the town of Ateel. The facility is affiliated with the regime’s military security agency,

Rayan Maarouf, of the Sweida24 network, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the clashes on Tuesday and Wednesday left over ten members of the regime faction dead and 30 injured. Others turned themselves over to the local armed groups.

Five members of local armed groups were killed.

The network released the confessions of one detainee, who said: “Falhout handed us hashish and captagon and a monthly salary of 400,000 to 500,000 Syrian pounds.”

Sweida has for days been witnessing a sort of revolt against security forces affiliated with Falhout, whom locals have called a “terrorist”. They have committed kidnappings, arrested locals and promoted drug abuse.

Notably, the local armed groups, clans and regular individuals, who are not affiliated with any faction, were involved in the fighting.



US Targets Houthis with Fresh Sanctions Action

Houthi members ride a pick-up truck while on patrol amid tensions with Israel, in Sanaa, Yemen, 18 July 2025. (EPA)
Houthi members ride a pick-up truck while on patrol amid tensions with Israel, in Sanaa, Yemen, 18 July 2025. (EPA)
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US Targets Houthis with Fresh Sanctions Action

Houthi members ride a pick-up truck while on patrol amid tensions with Israel, in Sanaa, Yemen, 18 July 2025. (EPA)
Houthi members ride a pick-up truck while on patrol amid tensions with Israel, in Sanaa, Yemen, 18 July 2025. (EPA)

The United States on Tuesday imposed sanctions on what it said was a Houthi-linked petroleum smuggling and sanctions evasion network across Yemen and the United Arab Emirates in fresh action targeting the Iran-backed militant group.

The US Treasury Department in a statement said the two individuals and five entities sanctioned on Tuesday were among the most significant importers of petroleum products and money launderers that benefit the Houthis.

"The Houthis collaborate with opportunistic businessmen to reap enormous profits from the importation of petroleum products and to enable the group’s access to the international financial system," said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Michael Faulkender.

"These networks of shady businesses underpin the Houthis’ terrorist machine, and Treasury will use all tools at its disposal to disrupt these schemes."

Among those targeted on Tuesday was Muhammad Al-Sunaydar, who the Treasury said manages a network of petroleum companies between Yemen and the United Arab Emirates and was one of the most prominent petroleum importers in Yemen.

Three companies in his network were also designated, with the Treasury saying they coordinated the delivery of approximately $12 million dollars’ worth of Iranian petroleum products with a US-designated company to the Houthis.

Since Israel's war in Gaza against the Palestinian group Hamas began in October 2023, the Iran-aligned Houthis have been attacking vessels in the Red Sea in what they say are acts of solidarity with the Palestinians.

In January, Trump re-designated the Houthi movement as a foreign terrorist organization, aiming to impose harsher economic penalties in response to its attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and against US warships defending the critical maritime area.

In May, the United States announced a surprise deal with the Houthis where it agreed to stop a bombing campaign against them in return for an end to shipping attacks, though the Houthis said the deal did not include sparing Israel.

The Israeli military attacked Houthi targets in Yemen's Hodeidah port on Monday in its latest assault on the militants, who have been striking ships bound for Israel and launching missiles against it.