Syrian security forces deploy in Suwayda; US-brokers Israel-Syria ceasefire

Syria’s security forces have begun deploying in the restive southern province of Suwayda, an Interior Ministry spokesperson has said, where heavy fighting between Druze and Bedouin armed groups and government forces have left hundreds dead.

The Syrian presidency announced on Saturday an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire. “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,” a statement said.

“The Presidency urges everyone to allow space for the Syrian state, its institutions, and forces to implement this ceasefire responsibly, in a manner that ensures the consolidation of stability and the cessation of bloodshed,” it added.

The developments were preceded hours earlier by the United States envoy announcing that Israel and Syria have agreed to a ceasefire after days of bloodshed in the predominantly Druze area.

US ambassador to Turkiye, Tom Barrack’s announcement was aimed at drawing an uneasy truce between the neighbours after days of air strikes and sectarian bloodshed in the Suwayda region.

Barrack said in a post on X early on Saturday that the ceasefire between Syria and Israel was “supported” by Washington and “embraced” by Turkiye, Jordan and Syria’s neighbours.

In his post announcing the ceasefire, Barrack said the US called “upon Druze, Bedouins, and Sunnis to put down their weapons and together with other minorities build a new and united Syrian identity in peace and prosperity with its neighbors “.

There has been no comment yet from Syrian or Israeli officials.

An Israeli official, who declined to be named, told reporters on Friday that in light of the “ongoing instability in southwest Syria”, Israel had agreed to allow the “limited entry of the [Syrian] internal security forces into Suwayda district for the next 48 hours”.

On Wednesday, Israel launched heavy air strikes targeting Syria’s Ministry of Defence in the heart of Damascus, and also hit Syrian government forces in the country’s Suwayda region.