Syria Declares Ceasefire in Sweida
(MENAFN) Syrian defense officials announced a full ceasefire Tuesday in the southern Sweida province after days of intense fighting among Druze militias, Bedouin tribes, and the interim government’s forces, according to defense chief Murhaf Abu Qasra.
In a statement shared on X, Abu Qasra confirmed, "We have ordered a complete ceasefire for all units operating within the city of Sweida after reaching an agreement with local elders and dignitaries."
He noted that the Syrian army will only engage in response to active gunfire, emphasizing that troops received clear directives to protect civilians, uphold social stability, and secure both public and private property.
Abu Qasra also revealed plans to transfer control of Sweida’s neighborhoods to internal security forces once clearance operations wrap up, with armed police set to deploy in the city to maintain discipline and ensure accountability.
A state media outlet reported that on Monday, Syrian military units began withdrawing heavy weaponry from Sweida in line with the ceasefire terms.
This agreement follows a weekend surge in violence. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) documented at least 99 deaths and approximately 200 injuries over the past 48 hours. The casualties include 60 Druze civilians—among them two women and two children—18 Bedouins, 14 soldiers loyal to the interim government, and seven unidentified personnel dressed in military attire.
Defense spokesperson Hassan Abdel Ghani described the fatalities as resulting from a "treacherous attack" by "outlawed armed groups" that killed 18 soldiers and wounded others earlier Monday.
Compounding the unrest, the SOHR reported that Israeli warplanes conducted an airstrike Tuesday against a Syrian army tank in Sweida province, destroying the vehicle. No casualties were reported immediately. This strike coincided with the arrival of substantial Syrian army reinforcements into the city.
The violence erupted after a Druze youth was attacked and robbed at an improvised checkpoint by armed Bedouins near al-Masmiyah, triggering retaliatory kidnappings by Druze fighters. The initial incident escalated rapidly into widespread armed clashes throughout Sweida city and its surrounding rural areas.
Despite the withdrawal of heavy weaponry and the fragile ceasefire, Sweida’s situation remains tense. Prominent Druze leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, who initially welcomed the interim government forces, later condemned their presence, urging "resisting this brutal campaign by all available means" in a video message. He explained that the earlier statement had been made under government pressure.
Adding to the regional volatility, Israel has launched multiple strikes against Syrian forces near Sweida since Monday, signaling a stern warning to the new authorities under the pretext of protecting Sweida’s Druze community.
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