Damascus (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Syrian Presidency declared an “immediate ceasefire” in Sweida on Saturday, with interior ministry forces being deployed in the Druze-majority province as part of a US-brokered agreement with Israel.
Syria’s security forces have started deploying in the volatile southern province of Sweida, according to a Ministry of Interior spokesperson. The area has seen intense clashes between Druze, Bedouin armed groups, and government forces, resulting in hundreds of deaths.
The office of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced 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,”
according to the statement.
“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 also said.
What role did the United States play in the truce?
The results came hours earlier by the United States ambassador asserted that Israel and Syria had consented to a ceasefire, after days of fighting in the largely Druze region.
US ambassador to Turkiye Tom Barrack’s statement was sought to draw a ceasefire between the neighbours after days of air raids and sectarian fighting in the Sweida area.
BREAKTHROUGH —— Israeli Prime Minister @Netanyahu and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa @SyPresidency supported by the U.S.A. @SecRubio have agreed to a ceasefire embraced by Türkiye, Jordan and its neighbors. We call upon Druze, Bedouins, and Sunnis to put down their weapons and…
— Ambassador Tom Barrack (@USAMBTurkiye) July 18, 2025
He stated in a post on X early on Saturday that the truce between Syria and Israel was “supported” by the US and “embraced” by Turkiye, Jordan, and Syria’s neighbours.
In his post reporting the ceasefire, Barrack expressed that Washington 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”.
What caused clashes between Druze and Bedouin groups?
Syria’s Sweida region has been devastated by nearly a week of brutality initiated by disagreements between Bedouin fighters and Druze factions. The Syrian government, earlier this week, deployed government soldiers to suppress the fighting, but they were blamed for carrying out widespread offences against the Druze and were struck by Israeli strikes.
On Wednesday, Israel’s defence forces carried out airstrikes in Damascus. They struck government forces in the south, insisting they withdraw and stating that Israel aimed to safeguard the Syrian Druze. This community is a component of a small but significant minority that also has members in Lebanon and Israel.
Israel had repeatedly stated it would not permit Syrian troops to deploy in the south of the country. Labelling Syria’s new leadership as almost openly jihadists, Israel has committed to protecting the Druze community in the region from any assault, motivated by appeals from Israel’s own Druze minority.
After the Israeli strikes, Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa stated in a televised address early Thursday that safeguarding the rights of the country’s Druze community was a priority. Although Syria would rather avoid conflict with Israel, it was not intimidated by the prospect of war.
