Syria and Israel, which have been engaged in armed clashes in the southern region of Sweida, have agreed to a ceasefire. This comes three days after the Israeli military conducted a surprise airstrike on the Syrian military command on the 16th.
On the 18th (local time), Tom Barrack, the U.S. ambassador to Turkey, stated through social media platform X that the two countries have agreed to a ceasefire.
He noted, 'I urge the Druze, Bedouin, and Sunni groups to lay down their arms and build a new, united Syrian identity alongside other minorities.'
Earlier, on the 13th, following armed clashes between the Bedouin and Druze tribes in southern Sweida, the Syrian interim government deployed troops to suppress the situation.
However, as battles intensified between the government forces and the Druze militia, casualties mounted. The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) reported that 321 people have died in this situation.
As a result, Israel conducted airstrikes on the Syrian capital Damascus and the southern region on the 16th under the pretext of protecting the Druze. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized, 'A ceasefire achieved through strength.'
The day after the Israeli airstrikes, Syria withdrew its government troops from Sweida, taking a step back.
Ahmed Al-Shara, the interim president of Syria, criticized Israel for trying to divide Syria, while declaring, 'For the unity of Syrian territory and the safety of our people, I declare a comprehensive and immediate ceasefire.'
Although a ceasefire has been established, the situation in Syria remains unstable. On the 18th, clashes resumed between the Druze and Bedouin groups, prompting the Syrian government to redeploy security forces to Sweida.
Israel has allowed Syria some leeway to restore order in the region. It has announced that it will permit a limited entry of Syrian security forces over the next 48 hours.
However, despite the announcement of the ceasefire, the local situation remains unstable. Residents have reported being isolated for days without electricity, fuel, or drinking water. The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has urged accountability, stating there have been reports of widespread human rights violations, including summary executions and abductions during the fighting.
Concerns are rising that the involvement of Israel in the sectarian and ethnic conflicts within Syria could further complicate the situation in the Middle East.