Syria: Ceasefire in Sweida Following Agreement with Local Leaders - Jordan News

Jordan News

7 hours ago

Syrian Minister of Defense Murhaf Abu Qasra announced a complete ceasefire in the city of Sweida on Tuesday, following an agreement reached with community elders and dignitaries in the city. اضافة اعلان In a statement via the platform X (formerly Twitter), Abu Qasra affirmed that the army would adhere to the truce but retains the right to respond to any fire or attacks from outlawed groups. He emphasized that strict instructions had been issued to military units stationed in Sweida to ensure civilian safety, preserve societal peace, and protect both public and private property from exploitation. The minister also revealed that once clearing operations are complete, control of neighborhoods in Sweida will be handed over to Internal Security Forces, to help curb chaos and facilitate the return of residents and restore stability. 'We have instructed the deployment of Military Police within Sweida to monitor military conduct and hold violators accountable,' said Abu Qasra. Brig. Gen. Ahmad Al-Dalati, head of Internal Security in Sweida, stated that forces from the Ministries of Interior and Defense would soon enter the city center, which has a majority Druze population, in order to protect civilians and restore security after recent deadly events. He urged residents to stay indoors and prevent "outlaw groups" from using residential buildings as positions to confront government forces. He called on religious authorities and faction leaders to fulfill their national and humanitarian responsibilities by cooperating to secure the city center and stabilize the province. According to the Syrian Ministry of Defense's media office, armed groups were retreating toward the urban core to evade confrontation, as the Syrian army continued its security operations in and around Sweida. The ministry urged civilians to report any movements by armed groups attempting to use populated areas as launchpads for further attacks. Druze Religious Leadership: 'Statement Was Imposed' In a video message, Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri said that a recent official statement issued in the name of the Druze religious authority was 'imposed upon them' under pressure from foreign powers and Damascus. 'Despite our acceptance of this humiliating statement, random shelling of unarmed civilians in Sweida continued,' Al-Hijri said. 'We are facing a campaign of extermination,' he added, accusing government forces of breaking their word and calling for resistance. Earlier on Tuesday, the Druze Spiritual Authority had issued a statement expressing deep sorrow over the tragic events in Sweida in recent days, which resulted in numerous casualties. The statement stressed the importance of bloodshed prevention and restoring order. It welcomed the deployment of Interior and Defense Ministry forces into the province, as part of state efforts to re-establish control and ensure stability. The authority urged all armed factions in Sweida to cooperate, refrain from resisting government forces, and surrender their weapons to the official authorities. It also called for dialogue with the Syrian government to address the consequences of the conflict and revive the functions of state institutions in collaboration with local professionals and community members. Clashes Continue in the Western Countryside Despite the ceasefire announcement, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that clashes continued on Monday in the western countryside of Sweida, involving Bedouin tribal fighters and government forces against local Druze militias. Government troops, backed by tanks, vehicles, and hundreds of soldiers, took control of the Druze-majority village of Al-Mazraa on the outskirts of Sweida and were advancing toward the city. Since May, Druze fighters have assumed control of security in Sweida under a local agreement with the authorities. However, armed Sunni Bedouin groups also operate in the rural areas of the province.
The Druze population in Syria is estimated at around 700,000, mainly concentrated in Sweida, with smaller communities in Jaramana, Sahnaya (near Damascus), and limited presence in Idlib in the northwest. Regionally, the Druze total over one million, primarily living in Lebanon, Syria, Israel/Palestine, and Jordan.