BEIRUT/JERUSALEM, July 19 – Israel and Syria have reached a ceasefire after a week of intense and deadly clashes in Syria’s southern Sweida region. The ceasefire, announced on Friday, comes after escalating clashes that have left more than 300 people dead and hundreds more wounded.
The agreement, reportedly brokered with the involvement of regional players including Turkey and Jordan, grants the Syrian government limited access to the Sweida province for a short period. The situation had spiraled out of control earlier in the week, prompting international concern over the deteriorating humanitarian conditions and the growing death toll.
The ceasefire was confirmed by a U.S. diplomat, who called on all factions—including Druze, Bedouin, and Sunni groups—to unite under a collective Syrian identity and to end the violence that has destabilized the region.
Tensions Boil Over in Sweida
The violence in Sweida, a predominantly Druze region in southern Syria, erupted after renewed clashes between Druze militias and Bedouin groups. The conflict has not only strained local relationships but has also drawn in foreign powers, especially after Israeli airstrikes targeted Syrian government positions near Damascus and in the southern region.
The Israeli government stated that these strikes were intended to protect the Druze minority, a community that shares strong ties with Druze citizens living in Israel and Lebanon. Tensions intensified as Israeli leadership described Syria’s new authorities as radicalized elements, vowing to prevent any threat to the Druze population residing near the conflict zone.
On Friday, Israel granted Syrian security personnel temporary access to parts of Sweida, marking a notable shift in its recent stance on troop movements near the border. An Israeli official, who declined to be named, noted that the access would last only 48 hours and was strictly for the purpose of restoring order and preventing further civilian casualties.
Damascus had previously deployed troops to the area, but they faced accusations of severe rights violations against Druze civilians. Israeli forces then launched targeted airstrikes in response to those alleged abuses, resulting in a temporary withdrawal of Syrian troops under a truce that began on Wednesday.
Humanitarian Crisis Escalates
As the fighting raged through the week, Sweida’s civilian population bore the brunt of the violence. Residents described living conditions as dire. Electricity had been cut for several days, water and food supplies were dwindling, and fuel was nearly non-existent.
Mudar, a 28-year-old resident of Sweida, shared that the city had been plunged into darkness and isolation. “We’ve had no power, no supplies, and almost no access to the internet. We don’t even know what’s happening around us,” he said, asking to be identified only by his first name due to safety concerns.
Local news reports confirmed ongoing clashes in the northern and western parts of the province. Despite the ceasefire, many residents expressed skepticism, fearing that the violence would resume as thousands of Bedouin fighters were still mobilizing near Sweida’s borders.
A human rights group monitoring the conflict reported that at least 321 people had lost their lives since Sunday, including women, children, and medical personnel. The organization said that among the dead were victims of field executions, allegedly carried out by multiple sides involved in the fighting.
One particularly horrific incident occurred on Tuesday when members linked to interim Syrian authorities allegedly opened fire during a family gathering, killing 13 civilians. Six more individuals were reportedly executed near their homes later that day.
The United Nations urged all involved parties to allow humanitarian organizations access to affected areas, noting that aid delivery had been severely hindered by the ongoing conflict. Additionally, The UN’s human rights branch appealed for action on documented violations, highlighting the urgent need for fair inquiries and proper redress for those harmed.
A convoy of Syrian interior ministry units was seen stationed in Daraa province on Friday, waiting for final clearance to move into Sweida. While Damascus claimed its intention was to restore peace and stability, there were concerns among observers that further troop deployments could worsen the situation unless closely monitored.
The Syrian president, in a televised address, condemned foreign interference and accused Israel of trying to exploit the internal divisions in Syria for strategic gain. He reiterated his commitment to protect the Druze community and to implement both political and security reforms to maintain order.
Despite Israel’s earlier stance of barring any Syrian military presence in the south, the recent shift indicates a strategic compromise, albeit temporary, to contain the chaos and prevent further bloodshed.
Meanwhile, the United States has played a quiet but critical role in stabilizing the situation. Although it voiced concerns over the Israeli airstrikes, U.S. officials supported the ceasefire effort and expressed hope that it would hold long enough to allow humanitarian aid to reach civilians.
As of Friday evening, the truce appeared to be in place, although intermittent gunfire and localized skirmishes were still being reported. Whether the agreement marks the beginning of long-term peace or merely a short pause in hostilities remains uncertain.