SDF Commander urges halt to Suwayda violence
On Wednesday, Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander Mazloum Abdi called for an immediate end to the ongoing violence in Suwayda, emphasizing that Syria's future depends on dialogue and reason rather than revenge.
In a post on X, Abdi reported receiving appeals from residents in Suwayda requesting safe corridors for civilians, describing the killing of women and children, along with the targeting of religious symbols, as violations of human values and Syrian societal norms.
تصلنا مناشدات من أهلنا في السويداء لتأمين ممرات آمنة للمدنيين ووقف الهجمات التي تستهدفهم.قتل النساء والأطفال والاعتداء على الرموز الدينية جريمة بحق الإنسانية وقيم السوريين، ويجب وقف هذه الأعمال العدوانية فورًا ومحاسبة المسؤولين عنها.بعد 14 عامًا من الحرب، آن الأوان لوقف نزيف…
— Mazloum Abdî مظلوم عبدي (@MazloumAbdi) July 16, 2025
He also urged a halt to what he called 'aggressive actions,' calling for those responsible to be held accountable. 'Fourteen years into the war, it is time to stop the bloodshed. Syria cannot recover through retaliation, but through reasoned dialogue,' he added.
Abdi further characterized the situation facing the Druze community as a national issue that must be resolved through constitutional means and inclusive dialogue.
The southern province has witnessed days of intense clashes between local armed groups and tribal factions, with over 250 people reported dead, according to local sources. A ceasefire agreement was later reached between a Druze faction and Syria's Interior Ministry.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
US Envoy urges end to Syria hostilities
Shafaq News – Washington/Suwayda US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack on Sunday called on all armed factions in Syria to end hostilities and break the cycle of 'tribal vengeance.' On X, Barrack praised President Donald Trump's decision to lift sanctions on Syria, calling it 'a principled step' toward peace. But he warned that 'this fragile ambition is now overshadowed by profound shock, as brutal acts by warring factions on the ground undermine the government's authority and disrupt any semblance of order.' 'Syria stands at a critical juncture,' he asserted. 'Peace and dialogue must prevail—and prevail now.' President Trump's decision to lift sanctions was a principled step, offering the Syrian people a chance to move beyond years of unimaginable suffering and atrocities. The international community has largely rallied behind the nascent Syrian government, watching with cautious… — Ambassador Tom Barrack (@USAMBTurkiye) July 20, 2025 Despite the declared ceasefire, violence in Suwayda has escalated. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported clashes between Druze fighters and tribal factions, with the death toll rising to 940 over the past week. On Saturday, tribal gunmen raided the village of Ariqa, west of Suwayda, triggering gun battles and drone strikes that left civilians trapped. Further east, in Shahba along the Damascus highway, fierce fighting erupted between Druze forces and units aligned with Syria's Defense Ministry. SOHR confirmed that tribal fighters retreated from central Suwayda after a major counteroffensive by Druze groups, who regained control of several districts following hours of street combat. Despite the counteroffensive, mortar fire continued to pound the city, injuring residents and destroying homes. Local sources warned the situation remains volatile, with casualties continuing to mount.
Rudaw Net
2 hours ago
- Rudaw Net
Secretary Rubio warns Damascus over Suwayda violence as tribal forces withdraw
Also in Syria 'They're erasing our identity': Suwayda native in Erbil pleads for end to violence Clashes continue in Suwayda, death toll passes 900: Watchdog Syrian president confirms truce as state forces enter Suwayda US announces Israel-Syria ceasefire following deadly clashes in Suwayda A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Damascus authorities must immediately reel in 'violent jihadists,' hold them accountable, and prevent their entry to the southern Druze-majority Suwayda province, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday, as Syrian authorities declared a halt to the fighting. 'If authorities in Syria want to preserve any chance of achieving a unified, inclusive, and peaceful Syria … they must end this calamity by using their security forces to prevent ISIS [Islamic State] and any other violent jihadists from entering the area and carrying out massacres,' Rubio said on X. He called on Damascus to bring the perpetrators of atrocities in the area to justice, 'including those in their own ranks.' 'The rape and slaughter of innocent people which has and is still occurring must end,' Rubio asserted, adding that Washington is in touch with Israeli, Jordanian, and Syrian authorities over the developments in Suwayda. Syria's interior ministry said on Sunday that fighting in Suwayda had 'halted' after tribal fighters pulled out of the city. 'The city of Suwayda was evacuated of all tribal fighters and clashes within the city's neighborhoods were halted,' ministry spokesperson Noureddine al-Baba said, adding that Syrian troops were deployed to the province's north and west. The ceasefire, called for by the Syrian government, came after a Washington-brokered deal that sought to prevent further Israeli intervention. On Sunday, US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack described the events in southern Syria as a 'profound shock,' saying 'brutal acts by warring factions on the ground undermine the government's authority and disrupt any semblance of order.' 'All factions must immediately lay down their arms, cease hostilities, and abandon cycles of tribal vengeance. Syria stands at a critical juncture - peace and dialogue must prevail - and prevail now,' he stressed. Barrack further urged the Damascus authorities to capitalize on US President Donald Trump's decision to lift sanctions on the war-torn country. A day prior, Barrack met with Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) chief Mazloum Abdi to discuss the situation in Syria. 'They also discussed practical steps towards integration into a unified Syria for a peaceful, prosperous, inclusive and stable future for all Syrians. They agreed the time for unity is now,' the US Embassy in Syria said on X. Clashes in Suwayda erupted on Saturday between Druze fighters and tribal groups despite an internationally sponsored ceasefire, which pushed the death toll to around 940 people, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor. Israel has come out in support of the Druze and hit several targets, including Syrian state forces and an airstrike on the building of the defence ministry in Damascus. Clashes erupted last week between the Druze and Sunni Bedouin tribes. The Syrian army intervened and took control of most of the province, which had been under Druze rule since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December. A ceasefire was reached with US mediation and after Israel carried out strikes in support of the Druze. On Wednesday, interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced state forces were pulling out of the province.
Shafaq News
11 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Feyli community calls on Iraq to act on genocide recognition
Shafaq News – Baghdad Iraqi lawmakers, activists, and Feyli Kurdish representatives convened in Baghdad on Saturday to demand urgent action to restore the long-denied rights of the Feyli community, citing decades of forced displacement, property confiscation, and continued marginalization. The Member of the Feyli Front Sara Hussein underscored the community's historical suffering under previous regimes, including mass displacement and executions. Despite political change in Iraq, most Feylis have yet to regain their seized assets or receive compensation, she told Shafaq News. 'Today, we are still marginalized. Parliamentarians and officials have made efforts to implement laws protecting our rights, but bureaucratic hurdles and overlapping jurisdictions continue to block Property Restitution Law,' she stated, urging parliament to prioritize Article 140 in the next legislative session. Hussein also highlighted the neglect facing the Feyli language, warning that it risks extinction without serious cultural revival efforts. 'The Feyli language is distinct from Kurdish and holds unique cultural and social value.' Generational trauma and official recognition According to community data, more than 22,000 young Feylis went missing in the 1980s, and some 5,000 merchants were reportedly buried alive. Nearly 600,000 were deported from Iraq, with only about 10% managing to recover their properties or secure compensation. In 2010, Iraq's Supreme Criminal Court recognized the persecution of Feyli Kurds—including forced disappearances and property confiscations—as acts of genocide. Additionally, the Head of the Feyli Women's League Sabah Nur al-Din stressed the importance of raising awareness through such symposiums, emphasizing the need for young MPs to champion the community's rights.
