The Syrian presidency has announced plans to deploy a new force to the south of the country in a bid to end the deadly sectarian violence between Druze and Bedouin fighters near the city of Sweida.
In a statement on Friday, the office of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa urged “all parties to exercise restraint”, following reports of renewed fighting in the area. Nearly 600 people have reportedly been killed since the clashes erupted on Sunday.
The move comes after Syrian government troops, already stationed in Sweida province, were accused by local residents of carrying out extrajudicial executions and killing Druze civilians. The presence of government forces prompted Israeli airstrikes on Syrian positions in an effort to push them out of the region.
Shortly before the Syrian presidency announced the new military deployment, an Israeli official said Israel had agreed to allow a limited deployment of Syrian Internal Security Forces into Suweida for 48 hours to protect Druze civilians, citing the province’s ongoing instability.
On Friday, the US ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, said on social media platform X that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Sharaa had “agreed to a ceasefire”, which has also received backing from regional neighbours, Turkey and Jordan.
“We call 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 neighbours,” Barrack wrote.
Neither Syria nor Israel have publicly confirmed the ceasefire deal.
The predominantly Druze population in Sweida, followers of a secretive faith rooted in Shia Islam, have long distrusted the current jihadist-led government in Damascus. They also form religious minorities in Lebanon and Israel.
It was reported that violence targeting the Druze is beginning to spread beyond Suweida to other parts of Syria.
Earlier this week, UN human rights chief Volker Türk said his office had received credible reports of widespread abuses in Sweida, including summary executions and arbitrary killings, allegedly committed by security forces, interim government affiliates, and local Druze and Bedouin armed groups.
“This bloodshed and the violence must stop,” Türk said. “Those responsible must be held to account.”
In a televised address on Thursday, President Sharaa promised accountability and reassured the Druze community that their safety remained a top priority.
“We are eager to hold accountable those who transgressed and abused our Druze people because they are under the protection and responsibility of the state,” Sharaa said.
He further blamed the ongoing conflict on “outlaw groups”, accusing their leaders of having “rejected dialogue for many months”.
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