logo
Druze regain control of Sweida city after Syria announces ceasefire

Druze regain control of Sweida city after Syria announces ceasefire

Ya Libnan3 days ago
A Syrian government military vehicle drives along a street in the southern Druze city of Sweida on Jul 16, 2025. Instead of quelling the fight between the Druze and the Bedouins the Syrian security forces joined the bedouins against the Druze , executed at close range hundreds of Druze fighters and civilians , looted their homes and set them on fire (Photo: Reuters/Karam al-Masri)
SWEIDA, Syria: Druze fighters pushed out rival armed factions from Syria's southern city of Sweida on Saturday (Jul 19), a monitor said, after the government ordered a ceasefire following a
US-brokered deal
to avert further Israeli military intervention.
Fighting nonetheless
persisted in other parts of Sweida province,
even as the Druze regained control of their city following days of fierce battle with armed Bedouin supported by tribal gunmen from other parts of Syria and Lebanon.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said that 'tribal fighters withdrew from Sweida city on Saturday evening' after Druze fighters launched a large-scale attack.
Israel had bombed government forces in both Sweida and Damascus earlier this week to force their withdrawal after they were accused of summary executions and other abuses against Druze civilians during their brief deployment in the southern province.
More than 940 people have been killed in Sweida since last Sunday as sectarian clashes between the Druze and Bedouin drew in the government, Israel and armed tribes from other parts of Syria and Lebanon.
Earlier Saturday, an AFP correspondent saw dozens of torched homes and vehicles and armed men setting fire to shops and homes after looting them.
But in the evening, Bassem Fakhr, spokesman for the Men of Dignity, one of the two largest Druze armed groups, told AFP there was 'no Bedouin presence in the city'.
HUMANITARIAN CORRIDORS
The deal between the government and Israel was announced by Washington early on Saturday Damascus time.
US pointman on Syria, Tom Barrack, said interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 'have agreed to a ceasefire' negotiated by the United States.
Barrack, who is the US ambassador to Ankara, said the deal had the backing of Turkey, a key supporter of Sharaa, as well as neighboring Jordan.
'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,' he wrote on X.
Barrack later held a meeting in Amman with the Syrian and Jordanian top diplomats, during which they 'agreed on practical steps to support Syria in implementing the agreement', the US envoy said in a later post on X.
The US administration, which alongside Turkey and Saudi Arabia, has forged ties with the president despite his past links with Al-Qaeda and ISIS , was critical of its Israeli ally's recent air strikes on Syria and had sought a way out for Sharaa's government.
Sharaa followed up on the US announcement with a televised speech in which he announced an immediate ceasefire in Sweida and renewed his pledge to protect Syria's ethnic and religious minorities, a promise on which he never delivered
'The Syrian state is committed to protecting all minorities and communities in the country … We condemn all crimes committed' in Sweida, he stated. But the Syrian minorities stopped trusting him since the government forces always ended up supporting the Sunni rebels in their fights against the minorities as was evident in Sweida
The president paid tribute to the 'important role played by the United States, which again showed its support for Syria in these difficult circumstances and its concern for the country's stability'.
The European Union welcomed the deal between Syria and Israel, saying it had been 'appalled' by the deadly sectarian violence of recent days. France urged all parties to 'strictly adhere' to the ceasefire.
But Israel expressed deep skepticism about Sharaa's renewed pledge to protect minorities, pointing to deadly violence against Alawites , Christians as well as the Druze since he led the overthrow of longtime leader Bashar al-Assad in December.
In Sharaa's Syria 'it is very dangerous to be a member of a minority – Kurd, Druze, Alawite or Christian', Foreign Minister Gideon Saar posted on X.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said at least 940 people had been killed in the violence since last Sunday.
They included 326 Druze fighters and 262 Druze civilians, 165 of whom were summarily executed by the government forces , according to the Observatory.
They also included 312 government security personnel and 21 Sunni Bedouin, three of them civilians who were ' executed by Druze fighters'.
Another 15 government troops were killed in Israeli strikes, the Observatory said.
Syria's Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa on Saturday evening said that after the first phase of the ceasefire, which began on Saturday and involved the deployment of security forces to the province, a second phase would see the opening of humanitarian corridors.
Raed al-Saleh, Syria's minister for emergencies and disaster management, told state television that 'the humanitarian situation is bad' and that convoys were waiting to enter Sweida when 'the appropriate conditions' present themselves.
According to the United Nations, the fighting has displaced least 87,000 people.
Only Federalism Can Save Syria
Despite his hollow promises, Ahmed al-Sharaa has failed miserably in protecting Syria's vulnerable minorities. His brief rule has not ushered in a new era of inclusion or reconciliation, but one of betrayal and brutality. Many minorities across Syria—from Christians to Alawites, Druze to Kurds—no longer see Sharaa as a protector but as a former ISIS affiliate in a business suit.
In this climate of deep mistrust and sectarian tension, the idea of a strong, centralized government led by one faction is no longer tenable. Syria needs a new path forward—one that gives every group a stake in the country's future while ensuring local governance, autonomy, and protection. That path is federalism.
CNA/ YL
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Barrak urges the Lebanese  to keep hope alive
Barrak urges the Lebanese  to keep hope alive

Ya Libnan

time24 minutes ago

  • Ya Libnan

Barrak urges the Lebanese to keep hope alive

Beirut- US Special Envoy to Lebanon and Syria Tom Barrack on Tuesday affirmed the continued American efforts to stabilize the region, calling on the Lebanese people to 'keep hope alive.' His remarks came during a 75-minute meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut, which he described as 'excellent,' as they discussed political and security developments in Lebanon and the broader region. 'The meeting was excellent. We are pushing forward to achieve stability, and you (the Lebanese people) must remain hopeful,' Barrack said in his comments published by Berri's Facebook page. When asked by reporters about the US administration's refusal to provide Lebanon with guarantees that Israel will respect the current ceasefire, Barrack replied: 'It's not about guarantees. We are dealing with the situation, and everything is progressing.' 'Hope is essential. We are trying to move forward. The goal is regional stability,' he added. On Monday, after meeting Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Barrack reiterated Washington's position that it considers Hezbollah 'a terrorist group, ' but acknowledged that disarming the organization is 'a deeply internal matter.' The US diplomat also received a comprehensive memorandum from Lebanese President Joseph Aoun outlining commitments Lebanon made as part of last year's ceasefire deal with Israel. On June 19, Barrack proposed a roadmap to the Lebanese government that included the disarmament of Hezbollah's military wing in exchange for Israel's withdrawal from five border positions, and the release of international aid for reconstruction. The plan also calls for fiscal and economic reforms, border security enforcement, crackdowns on smuggling, and stricter oversight of public infrastructure and customs collection. Barrack's current visit marks his third to Beirut since unveiling the proposal in June. In a televised interview on June 27, Barrack said Hezbollah's military structure 'must be dismantled,' distinguishing it from the group's political wing and urging a timetable for disarmament. Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem has repeatedly rejected the US proposal. 'Those calling for the resistance to disarm must first demand an end to the Israeli aggression. It is unacceptable to ignore the occupation and only pressure those resisting it,' he said in a July 4 speech. 'Those who choose surrender must bear their own consequences. We will not accept that path,' he added. Cross-border warfare between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon escalated into a full-scale war in September 2024. Despite a November ceasefire, Israeli forces have conducted near-daily attacks in southern Lebanon, claiming to target Hezbollah's activities. Since then, Lebanese authorities have reported nearly 3,000 Israeli violations of the truce, including the deaths of at least 257 people and injuries to more than 560. Under the ceasefire deal, Israel was supposed to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by Jan. 26, but the deadline was extended to Feb. 18 after Tel Aviv refused to comply. Israel still maintains a military presence at five border outposts and Hezbollah remains armed despite UN Resolution 1701 and 1559 which call for disarming all militia in Lebanon AA

Barrack meets Rahi, says everybody doing their best
Barrack meets Rahi, says everybody doing their best

Nahar Net

timean hour ago

  • Nahar Net

Barrack meets Rahi, says everybody doing their best

by Naharnet Newsdesk 23 July 2025, 12:15 U.S. envoy Tom Barrack met Thursday with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, after he met on Tuesday and Monday with President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Speaker Nabih Berri and a host of political, religious and financial figures. Barrack said in a statement from Bkerki that the situation in Lebanon is complicated but assured that "everyone is doing their best". He said that Speaker Berri is doing what he can despite the complexity of the situation. Berri for his part said his meeting with Barrack was "excellent" and that he is optimistic because he felt Barrack was. "This positive atmosphere helped relieve the fear that had prevailed over the past two days," Berri told al-Modon newspaper in remarks published Wednesday. Berri said there is no new agreement. "There is an existing (ceasefire) agreement that we are trying to implement to stop the (Israeli) aggression." Barrack's visit to Lebanon comes amid ongoing domestic and international pressure for Hezbollah to give up its remaining arsenal after a bruising war with Israel that ended with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement in November.

Syrian sanctions: Caesar act to remain in effect to protect minorities, report
Syrian sanctions: Caesar act to remain in effect to protect minorities, report

Ya Libnan

timean hour ago

  • Ya Libnan

Syrian sanctions: Caesar act to remain in effect to protect minorities, report

Smoke rises while Syrian security forces sit in the back of a truck as Syrian troops entered the predominantly Druze city of Sweida on Tuesday following two days of clashes, between the Druze and bedouin tribes . Instead of quelling the fight the Syrian security forces forces joined the tribes in their attack , shot and killed several Druze at gunpoint , lo0ted their homes and set them on fire . A family of eight including one American from Oklahoma was killed by Syrian security forces July 15, 2025. Karam al-Masri/Reuters In another display of bipartisanship, two centrist Democrats — Reps. Brad Sherman of California and Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey — helped Republicans advance the Lawler plan. Trump-friendly Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., joined all other Democrats in voting 'no.' 'The objective here is very straightforward, which is to actually allow for this government to start to take hold and be successful — and in order to do that, you need to have, obviously, economic cooperation, and you need the sanctions to begin to be eased,' Lawler told Semafor. Still, he added, 'I believe it is foolish to immediately remove all sanctions without a truly stable situation on the ground,' pointing to a possible 'coup or a collapse of this fledgling government.' Lawler said he's 'been in touch with members of the administration' about his legislation. A White House spokesperson declined to comment. 'I get what Mike's trying to do, but in my view, let's not get ahead of the White House,' Donalds told Semafor. 'A lot of things have changed on the ground; let's give the president a wide berth.' Under current law, Trump can waive the remaining US sanctions on Syria, imposed under a law known as the Caesar Act, every 180 days. Lawler's legislation would give the new administration two years to certify the new Syrian government had met its set of conditions before lifting the sanctions for good. Among the lawmakers advocating for full repeal, rather than Lawler's solution: Conservative Rep. Joe Wilson , R-S.C., who urged the committee to 'reconsider' the measure , and the Financial Services Committee's top Democrat, Rep. Maxine Waters of California. Wilson said he supported the failed amendment Waters offered to Lawler's bill on Tuesday. AD 'Well, hey, she's correct,' Wilson said of Waters. 'I'm very grateful that indeed, the president has indicated that he wants to give Syria a chance — and the way to do that is to fully repeal the sanctions, so that businesses know that they can invest.' Some Democrats were torn ahead of the vote. Rep. Greg Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told Semafor that 'it's a touchy situation.' 'You remove all the sanctions at one time — you know, what does that mean?' Meeks said on his way into the committee room. 'At the same time, you want to make sure that there is progress going down the road.' 'Maybe by the time I get outside, I can tell you exactly what I believe,' Meeks added. He wound up voting against the bill. KNOW MORE The president cannot permanently lift sanctions imposed by the Caesar Act unless Congress repeals that law (or allows it to lapse in 2029). While the Trump administration issued a new six-month waiver of the sanctions in May, lawmakers on both sides of the debate say the short-term relief makes it difficult to facilitate long-term economic growth in Syria because investors lack certainty needed to make long-term decisions. 'What Lawler is attempting to do [is say] 'We want sanctions relief. We want money to flow back into the country,'' said Financial Services Chair French Hill, R-Ark. 'But how do we do that in the right way? Lawler's not adding burden, in my judgment, in his proposal.' 'The president has these freedoms, but in this bill, he's granted statutory relief that he doesn't have,' Hill added. 'The bill is a balanced bill.' Lawler acknowledged that 'the administration's position is going to be vital' when it comes to building sufficient support in the full House and Senate. Sherman raised concerns over lifting sanctions after sectarian violence in Syria led to the death of a US citizen last week. He voted yes after Lawler agreed to adopt his amendment that would add a new condition for lifting sanctions: 'reasonable steps … to protect religious and ethnic minorities.' As the Trump administration seeks to bring Syria into the Abraham Accords, Lawler expressed optimism that his proposal could be a helpful tool. The president in May promised Syria's new president sanctions relief if Damascus agreed to pursue normalized relations with Israel. 'This, in implementation, can be used as a vehicle by which to help actually normalize economic ties with Israelis,' Lawler said. Lawler said the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which also has jurisdiction over Syria sanctions, will also need to mark up the legislation. Meeks said that committee was his preferred venue for further discussion about the proposal. ROOM FOR DISAGREEMENT Those advocating to repeal the Caesar Act make two main arguments. Republicans say it would provide Trump with the most flexibility possible; Democrats say it would be the best bet for protecting Syrians. 'Sanctions are not effective in what the goal here is,' Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., said. 'On the ground, it is the Syrian people that are hurting because of these sanctions.' The Syrian Emergency Task Force said in a press release Tuesday that the bill 'goes against President Trump's agenda of 'giving Syria a chance' and allowing long-term investment.' ELEANOR'S VIEW A lot of the uncertainty surrounding Lawler's bill can be attributed to its relatively short runway. He only introduced the proposal last week, which hasn't left much time for members to decide how they want to proceed. Either way, the Trump administration's approach is critical. If it endorses the legislation, Lawler's proposal is on a glide path to enactment. If the administration tries to pump the brakes, it seems inevitable that the bill's momentum slows. Semator

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store