Sweida

History

Ancient and Medieval eras

The city was founded by the Nabataeans as Suada. It became known as Dionysias Soada () in the Hellenistic period and the Roman Empire, for the god Dionysus, patron of wine – the city is situated in a famous ancient wine-producing region.

The name Dionysias replaced the former Nabataean name in 149 AD after Nabataean influence decreased and then concentrated towards the south, as a result of the then accelerating Hellenization of Coele-Syria.

Dionysias was a part of the Roman province of Arabia Petraea, and received the rights of civitas during the reign of Commodus between 180 and 185.

Dionysus was worshipped in the same Nabatean temple dedicated to Dushara. This practice of associating the worship of local and Hellenic gods was common in Hellenistic Syria.

This name remained in use during the Byzantine Empire, when the town was under the influence of the Ghassanids. Dionysias then was a diocese with a suffragan bishop from Bosra. It was mentioned in the Synecdemus of Hierocles. After the early Muslim conquests, the city was conquered by the Rashidun Caliphate of the Arabs in 629 and became a titular see.

Yaqut al-Hamawi noted in the 1220s that Sweida was "a village of the Hauran Province".

Ottoman era

In 1516, the city and the adjoining region was conquered from the Mamluk Sultanate by the Ottoman Empire. In 1596 Sweida appeared under the name of Majdal Sawda in the Ottoman tax registers as part of the nahiya (subdistrict) of Bani Nasiyya of the Hauran Sanjak. It had a population of 5 households and 5 bachelors, all Muslim. The villagers paid a fixed tax rate of 20% on various agricultural products, including wheat, barley, summer crops, goats and/or beehives, in addition to "occasional revenues"; a total of 6,125 akçe. 3/4 of the revenue went to a waqf.

In the late 17th and/or early 18th centuries, Druze from Mount Lebanon and other parts of greater Syria migrated in significant numbers to the Jabal Hauran, which was subsequently referred to as ('the Druze Mountain'). The Jabal Hauran was full of deserted and ruined but once-prosperous and naturally defensible ancient villages which were utilized by the Druze newcomers. Initial settlement was concentrated in the northwestern area of the mountain due to the proximity to Druze villages on Mount Hermon. Settlement radiated across Jabal Hauran and Sweida was among the villages settled by the Druze before 1812. By at least 1860, Suwayda had become the main Druze settlement in the region.

In recent times Dionysias was identified as Sweida by William Waddington.

In the 19th century, visitors recorded the now-destroyed Tomb of Hamrath, an elaborate late Hellenistic mausoleum dating from the 1st century BCE.

Civil War (2011–present)

Main article: Syrian civil war

On 28 October 2012, security forces launched a campaign of mass arrests in the city.

2018 Sweida attacks

Main article: 2018 As-Suwayda attacks

On 25 July 2018, the city was rocked by a string of terrorist attacks. A group of at least 56 ISIS-affiliated attackers entered the city and initiated a series of gunfights and suicide bombings killing 246 people, the vast majority of them civilians. Many of the terrorists were reported killed during the attack, bringing the total death toll to at least 302 people. Forty-two Druze residents between the ages of 7 and 60 were kidnapped by ISIS and held captive. One was executed bringing the total in captivity to 41.

Protests

On 7 June 2020, anti-government protests erupted in the city due to the deteriorating economic situation. Protesters demanded the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad for the first time since 2015. As a result of the protests, Prime Minister Imad Khamis was sacked on 11 June and replaced by Hussein Arnous.

In February 2022, hundreds of protesters took to the streets in Sweida to decry corruption and worsening living standards.

In August 2023, thousands of protestors took to the streets to decry worsening economic conditions and demanding the departure of Syrian President Bashar al Assad.

Southern Syria offensive

During the Southern Syria offensive, Sweida was captured by the Syrian opposition on 7 December 2024. On 18 December 2024, a delegation of the Syrian transitional government arrived at the city to meet with the spiritual leader of the Druze.

2025 clashes

Main article: Southern Syria clashes (July 2025–present)

In July 2025, heavy fighting broke out between Druze and Bedouin in Suweida, killing dozens. As of July 19, 2025 over 600 Druze were reported dead. The Syrian government deployed regular soldiers and Interior Ministry units there. According to Israeli officials, this was done to crack down on the Druze minority.

The IDF attacked Syrian Armed Forces vehicles from the air and with URVs in order to prevent their arrival to the area. In a response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz cited the need to protect the Druze religious minority due to their close ties to Israeli Druze as well as assuring the security of Israel's borders by preventing the deployment of weaponry and Syrian military forces in the area.{{Cite web |title=Israel strikes Syrian city, vows to protect Druze from government forces

On 21 September 2025, Ayoub Kara, an ethnic Druze former member of the Israeli Knesset, declared Sweida an independent country, seceded from Syria.

Geography

Climate

Sweida's climate is warm, dry and temperate, with no rainfall in the summer months.This location is classified as BSk by Köppen and Geiger. The average temperature is 15.5 °C. About 323 mm of precipitation falls annually.

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Neighbourhoods

Sweida is divided into 10 neighbourhoods:

• Al-Wihda
• Al-Hurriyah
• Al-Nahdah
• Al-Shuhada
• Al-Fursan
• Al-Istiqlal
• Ath-Thawra
• Al-Jihad
• Al-Joulan
• Al-Mazraah

Demographics

|1981|43414 |2004|73641 |

The city had a population of 73,641 in the 2004 census.

The inhabitants of the city are mainly Druze, with small Christian (mostly Greek Orthodox) and Sunni Muslim Bedouin minorities.

The Sunni Bedouins primarily reside on the northern and eastern outskirts of the city, in the areas of al-Maqwas, al-Haroubi, al-Mashoureb, Rajem az-Zaytoun, ad-Diyatha, and ash-Shaqrawiyah.

In 2011, the Melkite Greek Catholic Church had approximately 2,300 believers in Sweida.

Religious buildings

• St. George Greek Orthodox Church
• St. Timon Greek Orthodox Church (small church)
• Jesus the King (Capuchin Fathers) Melkite Greek Catholic Church
• Jesus Good Shepherd National Evangelical Christian Union Church
• Saints Constantine and Helena Greek Orthodox Shrine
• Grand Mosque
• Omar ibn al-Khattab Mosque
• Maqam Ain az-Zaman (Druze Shrine)
• Maqam Sheikh Othman (Druze Shrine)

Archaeology

Many archeological sites can be found in the old part of the city:

• Temple of Dionysus-Dushara: eight well-decorated columns are still standing from the temple.
• Saint Sergius Basilica: was built in the fifth century. It has Byzantine architectural elements, with an abbey surrounding it. The basilica was dedicated to Sergius.
• The arch of the lesser church: the church itself is ruined. An arch is still standing there known locally as "The Gallows" ( al-Mashnaqah) with grape motif decorations.
• The theater: was recently discovered, south of the Agora.

The city has many ancient reservoirs, towers and old Roman houses that are still inhabited by locals today.

Many parts of the old city still await excavation, such as the Roman aqueduct, a conical reservoir, and a larger Roman theatre. There is also an old 7th century mosque built during the time of the Rashidun Caliphate.

Notable people

• Asmahan, singer
• Fahd Ballan, singer, actor
• Najat Abdul Samad, writer, translator and obstetrician

References

Bibliography

• {{cite book

References

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