Syrian forces deploy in Sweida as ceasefire begins
A road in Sweida, Syria, shows the scars of war as buildings burn in the distance on Friday. Photo: Reuters
Syria's Islamist-led government said its internal security forces began deploying in Sweida on Saturday as the presidency called on all parties to respect a ceasefire following bloodshed in the predominantly Druze area that has left hundreds dead.
In a statement, the Syrian presidency announced an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire and urged all parties to commit to it and end hostilities in all areas immediately.
The country's interior ministry spokesperson said earlier on Saturday that internal security forces had begun deploying in Sweida, in southern Syria.
Syria's Sweida province has been engulfed by nearly a week of violence that began with clashes between Bedouin fighters and Druze factions, before drawing in government security forces that were sent to the area by Damascus.
Israel has said it aims to protect Syria's Druze minority while also saying it wants areas of south Syria near its border to remain demilitarized. Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has accused Israel of seeking to sow division among Syrians.
On Friday, an Israeli official said Israel agreed to allow Syrian forces limited access to the Sweida area for the next two days.
At least 718 people have been killed in Syria's Sweida province, a war monitor said in an updated toll for nearly a week of violence in the heartland of the Druze minority.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights counted 146 Druze fighters and 245 civilians among the dead since Sunday, 165 of whom "were summarily executed by personnel of the defence and interior ministries".
The violence also claimed the lives of 287 government troops and 18 Bedouin fighters, plus three Bedouin "who were summarily executed by Druze fighters", the Britain-based monitor added. Fifteen more government troops were killed in Israeli air strikes.
The ceasefire took hold as the Israeli military said dozens of its citizens crossed the border with Syria into Majdal Shams, a Druze village in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
It said the citizens used violence against Israeli forces trying to disperse a gathering in the area overnight. (AFP)
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