Ceasefire Declared in Syria’s Suwayda After Week of Deadly Clashes
Suwayda, Syria — In the southern Syrian province of Suwayda, a tenuous ceasefire has been announced, tentatively ending one of the deadliest flare-ups in the region in recent memory. The announcement comes after a week of fierce fighting between Syrian government forces, Bedouin tribal fighters, and Druze militias, which has drawn attention from around the world and prompted regional mediation efforts.
Late Friday, the Syrian government affirmed the ceasefire and called on all sides to abide by it. According to reports, Interior Ministry units have been stationed in strategic Suwayda areas to maintain order and stop new conflicts. Local sources and foreign observers, however, are still dubious because fighting reportedly persisted in some areas of the province even after the announcement.
A week of Carnage
Growing tensions between the Druze minority and armed Bedouin tribal groups in the area, with government forces caught in the middle, led to the recent conflict in Suwayda. Almost 80,000 people were displaced by the violence, which overwhelmed humanitarian supplies and claimed hundreds of lives.
Homes, schools, and infrastructure were destroyed as the fighting spread to both urban and rural areas. Aid organizations are now urging immediate access to the impacted areas.
Israel’s Role in International Mediation
According to reports, U.S. envoy Tom Barrack played a key role in mediating the ceasefire through multilateral negotiations involving the United States, Turkey, Jordan, and Israel. Israel backed the truce and carried out limited airstrikes earlier in the week against what it said were militant targets close to the conflict zone. Israel has a stake in protecting Druze populations along its northern border.
Israeli officials maintain their involvement was defensive and humanitarian, despite allowing the Syrian government to re-enter some disputed areas.
Local Responses and Doubt
Walid Jumblatt and other prominent Druze leaders in Suwayda, Lebanon, and overseas praised the ceasefire but cautioned that tensions in the area are still high. They have demanded an impartial international inquiry into the causes of the conflicts and the actions of all participating armed groups.
One Druze cleric stated in a televised statement that “this ceasefire will be short-lived without justice and accountability.”
Terms and Implementation of the Ceasefire
The following are the terms of the ceasefire as stated in a brief issued by the Druze spiritual leadership:
- Cessation of hostilities by all armed groups
- Withdrawal of tribal militias from residential zones
- Safe passage for displaced civilians
- Immediate humanitarian access to affected towns
Tribal fighters have reportedly started to leave, but given the history of truce violations in southern Syria, trust in the process is still low.
What’s Up Next
The security void in Suwayda is still a serious worry despite the official truce. There is a significant chance of more violence because there are several groups fighting for control and a civilian population caught in the middle.
Additionally, the ceasefire has brought attention to the increasing geopolitical complexity in southern Syria, where historical grievances, sectarian loyalties, and regional powers are colliding more and more.
Suwayda is currently caught between a shaky calm and the threat of anarchy.
The post Ceasefire Declared in Syria’s Suwayda After Week of Deadly Clashes appeared first on Digpu News.
News