Syria, Druze leaders agree to new truce as US calls clashes 'misunderstanding'

India Today

17-07-2025

Israel on Wednesday night unleashed a series of heavy airstrikes in the heart of Damascus, targeting Syrian Defence Ministry headquarters and striking close to the presidential palace. The strikes followed Israel's warning to Syrian forces to withdraw from southern Syria, where clashes have erupted with the Druze minority.The United States has now stepped in, describing the violence as a 'misunderstanding' and announcing that all parties had agreed to halt hostilities.advertisementMeanwhile, Syrian government authorities and Druze community leaders declared a fresh ceasefire on Wednesday, aiming to halt days of intense clashes that had put Syria's fragile postwar political transition at risk and triggered military strikes from neighbouring Israel.
However, reports claimed that Israeli airstrikes continued even after the second ceasefire was declared.ISRAEL-SYRIA CONFLICT | WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR
Israel's attacks destroyed part of Syria's Defence Ministry building, sending smoke billowing across Damascus as warplanes struck mid-afternoon. Israel said it was compelled to act to shield the Druze community in southern Syria, labelling the Islamist-led administration of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa as "barely disguised jihadists". Calls from Israel's own Druze minority further pushed the government to intervene.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on social media that Washington had secured commitments from all involved to end the fighting 'tonight', calling it a historic rivalry that had led to an "unfortunate misunderstanding".
Earlier, while speaking to reporters at the White House, Rubio said, "These are historic, longtime rivalries and it led to an unfortunate situation and a misunderstanding. We are on our way towards a real de-escalation. In the next few hours, we hope to see some real progress to end what you have been seeing. It led to an unfortunate situation and a misunderstanding, it looks like, between the Israeli side and the Syrian side".
Fighting flared around Sweida this week between Druze fighters and Syrian government forces, despite claims of a ceasefire by a Druze leader and Syria's Interior Ministry. Israeli Druze even crossed the border fence to join Druze fighters on the Syrian side, according to news agency Reuters. Over 350 people have lost their lives this week in deadly clashes in and around Sweida, a city largely populated by the Druze community. The violence has seen Druze fighters battling government security units and armed members of Bedouin tribes.
The United Nations Security Council will convene later today to discuss the crisis between the two neighbouring nations. Israel's UN envoy demanded condemnation of attacks on civilians in the Islamist nation, while interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa vowed once again to safeguard minority communities.
Videos circulating on social media show government-backed fighters forcibly shaving the mustaches of Druze sheikhs while stomping on Druze flags and portraits of religious leaders. In other clips, Druze fighters are seen assaulting captured government troops and posing beside their bodies. News agency Associated Press reporters on the ground witnessed homes that had been burned and looted.
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