Archive July 20, 2025

The government of Syria claims to have put an end to the deadly clashes there after sending security forces to the troubled southern region and has cleared Bedouin fighters from the predominantly Druze city of Suwayda.

Following a separate United States-brokered agreement to prevent further Israeli military intervention in the clashes, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa ordered a new ceasefire between Bedouin and Druze groups.

Before the government’s claim, there were reports of mortar shelling and machinegun fire in nearby villages as well as nearby reports of nearby villages in Suwayda.

No casualties were immediately reported.

The fighting ended “following intensive efforts” to implement the ceasefire agreement and the deployment of government forces in Suwayda province, according to Nour al-Din Baba, a spokesman for the Syrian Ministry of Interior.

He claimed that clashes between the city’s neighborhoods have been stopped and that the city of Suwayda, which is located in the province’s west, have now been “cleared of all tribal fighters.”

Israeli intervention

A Druze truck driver’s abduction on a public highway last week sparked a string of revenge attacks, and tribal fighters from all over the nation poured into Suwayda to support the Bedouin community there.

Syrian government troops also participated in the clashes.

After leading members of the minority group accused government forces of beating them, Israel also joined the conflict on Wednesday by conducting extensive airstrikes in Suwayda and Damascus. It claimed Israel was protecting the Druze community.

On Thursday, Syrian government troops departed from Suwayda.

According to the Syrian Ministry of Health, at least 260 people have died and 1,700 have been injured in the conflict. However, more than 900 victims are estimated by other organizations.

Additionally, more than 87 000 people have been displaced.

The fighting are the most recent setback for al-Sharaa’s government, which took power after President Bashar al-Assad was ousted in December.

In a televised statement on Saturday, Al-Sharaa urged all parties to “lay down their weapons” and support the government’s efforts to bring about peace.

We call on the Bedouin clans to follow the state’s orders and adhere to the ceasefire, he said. To overcome these difficulties and protect our nation from foreign interference and internal sedition, everyone should understand that at this time, unity and full cooperation are needed.

He criticized Israel’s actions during the unrest, calling them “a dangerous step that threatened its stability.”

Bedouin groups announced their withdrawal from the Syrian city of Suwayda after the president made his announcement, and the Syrian government immediately sent troops there.

The Bedouin factions said in a statement that “we have decided to adhere to the ceasefire, prioritize reason and restraint, and allow the state’s authorised institutions the space to carry out their responsibilities in restoring security and stability” after consultations with all Suwayda clans and tribes.

We further state that all of our fighters have been taken out of Suwayda.

Despite some opposition from the local population, Al Jazeera’s Mohamed Vall, a journalist from Damascus, claimed that the Druze, too, appeared to have accepted the truce.

“Hikmat Al Hajri, a well-known spiritual leader, has requested that all Bedouin fighters be safely evacuated from Suwayda. The interior ministry’s security forces have been stationed to guard the implementation of the ceasefire and separate opposing groups. However, there are still rumors of fighting in the city, with some Druze leaders voicing strong opposition to the end of hostilities, he said.

Vall added that while “there is hope” for a solution to the conflict, “there is also doubt that it has ended.”

The world applauds the truce.

Jordan has also held discussions with Syria and the US regarding efforts to ratify the Suwayda ceasefire.

Ayman Safadi, the Jordanian government’s foreign minister, Asaad al-Shibani, his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shibani, and Thomas Barak, the US special envoy for Syria, “discussed the situation in Syria and efforts to consolidate the ceasefire to prevent bloodshed and ensure the safety of civilians,” according to a readout released by the country’s government.

The three officials came to a consensus on “practical steps” to support the ceasefire, including the release of all-clear prisoners, the deployment of Syrian security forces, and efforts to reconcile the community.

Safadi expressed satisfaction with the Syrian government’s “commitment to holding accountable all those accused of crimes against Syrian citizens” in the Suwayda region, according to the statement.

The truce must also be upheld, along with other nations all over the world.

David Lammy, the foreign secretary of the United Kingdom, stated in a post on X that a “sustained ceasefire is essential” and that he was shocked by the violence in southern Syria.

The Syrian government’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs called for inquiries into abuses against civilians in Suwayda and emphasized the need for “Syrian authorities to ensure the safety and rights of all segments of the Syrian people.”

Japan called for the immediate implementation of the ceasefire, as well as the Israeli strikes, and expressed its concern over the violence.