Israel and Syria Agree to Ceasefire in Al-Suwayda

The US envoy to Syria, Thomas Brack, announced early this Saturday an agreement between Israel and Syria to cease fire, with support from Turkey, Jordan, and neighboring countries.

Brack called on all parties, especially the Druze and Bedouins, to lay down their arms and work together to build a unified and peaceful Syria.

This agreement comes amid fierce clashes at the western entrance of Al-Suwayda city between armed tribesmen and Druze fighters, involving heavy fighting with the use of machine guns and shells, with around 200 fighters engaged according to AFP.

The clashes began on July 13, followed by the Syrian security forces' intervention on July 15 to try to calm the situation. However, Israel later conducted airstrikes on Damascus and shelled military sites in the south, demanding the withdrawal of forces from the province, justifying its strikes by protecting the Syrian Druze.

In response to the events, the Syrian presidency issued a statement expressing its deep concern and regret for the "bloody events" resulting from the expansion of armed groups operating outside the law, warning of the danger of chaos on civilians' lives, and emphasizing that the state protects the law and does not respond to chaos with chaos, but with justice.

The presidency announced that specialized forces would be sent to resolve the clashes and conflicts on the ground, alongside political and security measures aimed at restoring stability and calm to the province as quickly as possible.

Additionally, the Syrian Ministry of Defense announced on the evening of July 16 the withdrawal of all its military forces from Al-Suwayda in accordance with the ceasefire agreement, despite ongoing clashes between tribesmen and Druze.

These developments come amidst significant tension in southern Syria, with continued regional and international interventions adding further complexity to the security situation in the region.