The Syrian government has reported a cessation of hostilities in Sweida, following the city’s recapture by Druze fighters and the strategic redeployment of state forces. Tragically, over 900 lives have been lost amid ongoing sectarian violence in the region.
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According to monitoring reports, Druze fighters successfully expelled competing armed factions from the city yesterday. This development followed a government-ordered ceasefire that was initiated to prevent further Israeli military action. As Syria’s interior ministry spokesman, Noureddine al-Baba, noted in a Telegram post, “Sweida has been evacuated of all tribal fighters, and clashes within the city’s neighborhoods have ceased.”
This calmer atmosphere emerges in the wake of Israeli airstrikes on government forces in both Sweida and Damascus, aimed at compelling their withdrawal amid allegations of summary executions and abuses against Druze civilians during their recent deployment in the southern province.
However, reports from an AFP correspondent highlighted a troubling scene earlier today, with numerous homes and vehicles set ablaze while armed individuals looted shops. Despite this, by evening, Bassem Fakhr, a spokesperson for the Men of Dignity, one of the leading Druze armed groups, asserted, “There is no Bedouin presence in the city.” Supporting this, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the withdrawal of tribal fighters from Sweida following a substantial offensive by Druze forces.
While peace has returned to the city of Sweida, fighting continues in other areas of the province as Druze fighters reclaim their territory following intense clashes with Bedouin armed groups. It’s essential to recognize that diplomacy plays a crucial role in these dynamics; a ceasefire agreement was announced by Washington earlier this morning, where U.S. point person Tom Barrack confirmed that Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had come to a consensus.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called for the Syrian government’s security forces to prevent jihadist infiltration and “ensure that those within their ranks are held accountable for any atrocities committed,” reinforcing the need for justice as a cornerstone of stability.
Mr. Barrack, also the U.S. Ambassador to Ankara, mentioned that this arrangement received the support of Turkey, which has been a steadfast ally of Sharaa, as well as neighboring Jordan. “We urge Druze, Bedouins, and Sunnis to lay down their arms and collaborate with other minorities to forge a unified Syrian identity based on peace and shared prosperity,” he shared on X.
In a televised address following the announcement, Mr. Sharaa reiterated his commitment to cease hostilities in Sweida, vowing to safeguard Syria’s diverse ethnic and religious communities. “The Syrian state is dedicated to protecting all minorities and communities in the country. We condemn all crimes committed in Sweida,” he stated emphatically.
Despite these assurances, Israel has voiced skepticism about the sincerity of these protection promises, citing a history of violence against Alawites and Druze under Sharaa’s leadership. Gideon Saar, Israel’s Foreign Minister, expressed this concern on X, emphasizing, “In Sharaa’s Syria, it is perilous to be a minority—whether Kurdish, Druze, Alawite, or Christian.”
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the death toll from this recent outbreak of violence has tragically surpassed 940 since last Sunday, with victims spanning across various groups, including 326 Druze fighters and 262 Druze civilians. Out of these, 165 were reportedly executed without trial, alongside government personnel and Sunni Bedouins.
Syria’s Information Minister, Hamza al-Mustafa, announced that following the initial phase of the ceasefire—focused on security deployment—efforts would pivot toward establishing humanitarian corridors to assist the displaced. The United Nations estimates that the ongoing clashes have compelled at least 87,000 individuals to flee their homes.
As we watch the developments, it becomes increasingly clear that amidst the tensions, the path to peace and stability in Syria remains fraught. Yet, it is through collective effort and dialogue that a united Syrian identity and a hopeful future can be forged.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
