Saturday – In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, Israeli and Syrian leaders have agreed to a ceasefire following intense sectarian clashes in southern Syria. The agreement was reached under the mediation of the United States, aiming to halt hostilities that have claimed hundreds of lives over the past six days.
U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack announced the truce early Saturday. He stated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Syrian interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa agreed to cease all hostilities, with the backing of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Regional players, including Türkiye and Jordan, have also endorsed the deal.
“We call upon Druze, Bedouins, and Sunnis to put down their weapons and, together with other minorities, build a new and united Syrian identity in peace and prosperity with its neighbors,” Barrack shared in a post on social media.
The ceasefire comes after a week of fierce clashes in Syria’s southern province of Sweida, which sparked fears of a broader regional conflict. Under the terms of the agreement, Syrian government security and military institutions will be permitted to re-enter all parts of Sweida. Local sources report that the deal includes the dissolution of all local factions, the handover of heavy weapons, and the integration of former fighters into state security structures.
The spiritual leadership of the Druze community has welcomed the ceasefire, expressing readiness to end hostilities and urging a return to “wisdom and reason.” Meanwhile, humanitarian concerns remain acute in Sweida, where United Nations convoys have been blocked from entering conflict zones in recent days.
As of now, Syrian authorities have not issued an official statement regarding the ceasefire agreement. The international community watches closely, hoping this development will pave the way for lasting peace and stability in the region.
