Damascus, Syria – The Syrian government and Israel have reached a ceasefire agreement to halt fighting in southern Syria’s Sweida province, U.S. envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack announced on Saturday.
In a post on X, Barrack said Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to the deal with backing from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The agreement was also supported by Turkey and Jordan.
Barrack urged Druze, Bedouin, and Sunni communities in Sweida to lay down their arms and “together with other minorities build a new and united Syrian identity in peace and prosperity with its neighbors.”
The announcement came a day after the Syrian presidency said it had dispatched specialized forces to de-escalate the fighting between local factions and Bedouin tribal militias.
Related: Clashes Between Druze Factions and Pro-Government Tribes Escalate in Sweida
In a statement, the presidency blamed “armed groups outside the law” for the violence and stressed that protecting civilians was a national duty.
“The assault on peaceful families, terrorizing residents, and violating the sanctity of homes is a blatant breach of all moral, legal, and humanitarian standards,” the statement read, adding that the state’s response would prioritize justice and rule of law over retaliation.
The government said it was taking a neutral stance among all communities and warned against being drawn into internal conflicts that could jeopardize Syria’s unity.
The Druze spiritual leadership in Syria also called for an immediate end to the fighting and urged all sides to act with reason and humanity. In a statement on Facebook, it said: “We extend our hand to every honorable person to stop the bloodshed and end the clashes.”
The ceasefire agreement comes amid growing international concern over the humanitarian and security situation in Sweida, following days of intense clashes that killed hundreds, injured more, and displaced families across the province.
