As Suwayda, Syria — A fragile ceasefire was declared Saturday evening in Syria’s volatile As Suwayda province, halting a week-long surge in communal violence that saw Druze self-defense groups and Arab tribal militias clash in the southern highlands. The ceasefire, announced by interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, aims to stem the bloodshed and stabilize a region that has become a flashpoint for both sectarian tensions and foreign interference.
The truce order came after reports of mounting casualties and property destruction, with local hospitals overwhelmed by victims of sniper fire, mortar shells, and house-to-house street battles. Witnesses described the area as a war zone, with once-quiet villages turned into barricaded frontlines. The situation escalated dangerously earlier this week, prompting Damascus to deploy military police and special forces units to As Suwayda city.
Tensions reportedly flared after an Arab convoy attempted to pass through Druze-controlled territory, sparking a violent reprisal. The conflict quickly snowballed into wider unrest, with accusations of provocation leveled at both sides. In response, Syrian government forces moved in on July 15 to enforce order. The timing coincided with an unusual escalation: Israeli fighter jets launched attacks near Damascus and southern Syria on July 16, claiming to target weapons shipments allegedly bound for Hezbollah, but hitting Syrian convoys operating near the contested area.
The Israeli airstrikes added a geopolitical dimension to what was already a combustible domestic crisis. While Tel Aviv justified the bombing as a protective measure for the region’s Druze population, many of whom have relatives in Israel, the move was widely condemned in Damascus as a breach of Syrian sovereignty. It also risked undermining the Syrian state’s fragile negotiations with tribal and local militias that have grown in autonomy since the onset of the civil war.
According to state media, the ceasefire was brokered with backing from Washington, through its special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack. The deal reportedly involved high-level coordination between Syrian, Israeli, and American representatives, a rare convergence of rivals that underscores the seriousness of the security threat. President al-Sharaa emphasized the need for humanitarian aid delivery and protection of civilians as central pillars of the agreement, warning that any breach of the truce would be met with force.
Noted by TASS, the Syrian government declared that all hostile activities must cease immediately, and security forces would ensure compliance in affected areas. With distrust running deep and memories of betrayal fresh, it remains uncertain whether the ceasefire will endure, or if this is merely a pause before a broader conflagration.
