Syria’s security forces are deploying to the southern province of Suwayda following heavy fighting between Druze and Bedouin armed groups and government forces that has resulted in hundreds of casualties.
The Syrian presidency announced a comprehensive ceasefire on Saturday, stating: “In light of the critical circumstances the country is going through, and out of concern to spare Syrian blood, preserve the unity of Syrian territory, the safety of its people, and in response to national and humanitarian responsibility, the Presidency of the Syrian Arab Republic announces a comprehensive and immediate ceasefire.”
The presidency urged all parties to allow Syrian state institutions and forces to implement the ceasefire responsibly to ensure stability and end bloodshed.
These developments followed earlier announcements by US envoy Tom Barrack that Israel and Syria had agreed to a ceasefire after days of violence in the predominantly Druze region. Barrack’s statement aimed to establish a truce between the neighbors following air attacks and sectarian bloodshed in Suwayda.
In a post on X, Barrack said the Israel-Syria ceasefire was “supported” by Washington and “embraced” by Turkey, Jordan and Syria’s neighbors. He called upon “Druze, Bedouins, and Sunni to put down their weapons and together with other minorities build a new and united Syrian identity in peace and prosperity with its neighbours.”
Neither Syrian nor Israeli officials have commented on the ceasefire announcement.
An unnamed Israeli official told reporters Friday that given “ongoing instability in southwest Syria,” Israel had agreed to allow “limited entry of the [Syrian] internal security forces into Suwayda district for the next 48 hours.”
On Wednesday, Israel conducted heavy air strikes against Syria’s Ministry of Defence in Damascus and targeted Syrian government forces in Suwayda. Israel claimed these attacks were intended to protect Syria’s Druze minority, amid ongoing ethnically charged clashes in the region.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has referred to the Druze as “brothers.” The community numbers approximately one million in Syria, primarily concentrated in Suwayda, and about 150,000 in Israel.
A US, Turkey and Arab-mediated ceasefire agreement between Druze leaders and the Syrian government was reached Wednesday. However, Israel launched air raids the same day, killing at least three people and wounding 34.
Following the Israeli strikes, Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa addressed the nation Thursday, declaring that protecting Druze citizens and their rights was a priority. He stated that while Syria preferred to avoid conflict with Israel, it was not afraid of war and would overcome Israeli attempts to divide the country through aggression.
Heavy fighting between Druze and Bedouin tribes resumed in Suwayda on Friday, prompting Damascus to redeploy specialized forces to restore order in the Druze-majority governorate.
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