Middle East: Truce between warring factions in Sweida holds – DW – 07/20/2025
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, said that "Sweida has been experiencing a cautious calm" since midnight.
The report said that Syrian government security forces had blocked roads leading to the province in order to prevent tribal fighters from entering Sweida.
After more than a week of clashes between Bedouin and Druze groups in Sweida, the Bedouin clans announced that they were withdrawing from the city.
Druze-majority Sweida province has also been hit by Israeli strikes in recent days, with Israel attacking government forces who had tacitly supported the Bedouins.
Although Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa has been more closely allied with the Bedouins, he urged them to lay down their arms, saying that paramilitaries "cannot replaced the role of the state in handling the country's affairs and restoring security."
"We thank the Bedouins for their heroic stances but demand they fully commit to the ceasefire and comply with the state's orders," he added.
The truce between the two groups was partly brokered by the United States, which dropped several of its sanctions against Syria in June following the ouster of strongman Bashar Assad.
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called on the interim Syrian government to "prevent ISIS and any other violent jihadists from … carrying out massacres" in the conflict-stricken south of the country.
"The rape and slaughter of innocent people which has and is still occurring must end," he wrote on his personal account on X.
"If authorities in Damascus want to preserve any chance of achieving a unified, inclusive and peaceful Syria free of ISIS and of Iranian control, they must help end this calamity by using their security forces."
Rubio also demanded that the new Islamist-led regime in Damascus hold to account "anyone guilty of atrocities including those in their own ranks" and called for fighting between Druze and Bedouin groups in Sweida to stop.
Syrian government forces returned to the region on Saturday after withdrawing earlier in the week.
After the new German government resumed deportations to Afghanistan this week, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has floated a similar approach for Syria – despite the current unrest in the war-torn country.
"It's possible that, in future, Syrians who have committed criminal offenses [could be] deported," he told the newspaper. "I think that's possible in principle – provided the country develops in [the right] direction."
Southern Syria has been rocked by violence again this week, with the new Islamist-led regime in Damascus struggling to prevent clashes between Druze and Bedouin factions in Sweida and powerless to stop Israeli intervention. Hundreds of people have reportedly been killed.
"We are watching Syria with concern," said Wadephul, calling on the interim government under Ahmed al-Sharaa to ensure that all sections of the population and all religious groups can co-exist.
"No-one should have to fear for life and limb," he said. "But as it stands, we are of the opinion that we have to give this interim government a chance."
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on Saturday visited Taybeh, the Palestinian Christian village in the occupied West Bank whose residents accuse Israeli settlers of torching a church there on July 9.
A staunch Israel supporter, Huckabee struck a rare critical tone, going as far as calling the desecration of a place of worship, in that case the Church of St. George in Taybeh, an "act of terror."
Huckabee, who is an evangelical Christian, stressed that "desecrating a church, mosque or synagogue is a crime against humanity and God."
He said that Taybeh was home to many American citizens.
"I work for ALL American citizens who live in Israel-Jewish, Muslim or Christian," Huckabee said on X. "When they are terrorized or victims of crime I will demand those responsible be held accountable [with] real consequences."
Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa has urged Sunni Muslim Bedouin tribes to "fully commit" to a ceasefire aimed at ending deadly clashes with Druze-aligned militias that have killed hundreds and threatened the country's fragile post-war transition.
His call came Saturday as government forces, initially sent to restore order but seen siding with Bedouin fighters, were redeployed to contain renewed fighting that flared late Thursday. The violence also triggered Israeli airstrikes on Syrian government positions before a truce was reached.
In his second televised address since the unrest began, al-Sharaa accused "armed groups from Sweida" of reigniting the conflict by "launching retaliatory attacks against the Bedouins and their families."
He also warned that Israeli intervention had "pushed the country into a dangerous phase that threatened its stability."
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused Sharaa of siding with the perpetrators.
"In al-Sharaa's Syria, it is very dangerous to be a member of a minority — Kurd, Druze, Alawite, or Christian," Katz posted on X. "This has been proven time and again over the past six months."
The Vatican has voiced skepticism over Israeli claims that a deadly strike on a Catholic church in Gaza was accidental.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state and second only to the pope, made the remarks in a televised interview on Italy's Rai network.
Parolin demanded full clarification from Israel following Thursday's shelling of the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza City, which killed three people and injured nine others — including the local Italian priest. The church had been sheltering around 600 displaced people, according to Palestinian sources.
Parolin said it was reasonable to doubt that the attack was merely a military mistake.
His remarks came after a phone call between Pope Leo XIV and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had earlier expressed "deep regret."
Parolin stressed that the Vatican is not satisfied with Israel's explanation so far.
"We should give them the time necessary to tell us what actually happened: Whether it was really a mistake, which can be rightfully doubted, or whether it was the intention to target a Christian church, knowing how much Christians are an element of moderation in the Middle East," he said.
Roughly 1,000 Christians live in the Gaza Strip, which is home to more than 2 million people. The Church of the Holy Family is Gaza's only Catholic church.
Syria's Islamist-led government has deployed security forces to the southern city of Sweida and called for an end to days of deadly factional fighting.
The presidency announced a nationwide ceasefire on Saturday, urging all sides to halt hostilities. The move comes after nearly a week of violence in Sweida province, where clashes between Druze factions and Bedouin fighters have left hundreds dead, according to local sources.
The Interior Ministry confirmed that internal security forces had begun operations in the area.
In a separate address, interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa said mediation by "Arab and American" actors had helped calm tensions. He also condemned Israel for recent airstrikes targeting Syrian government positions in the south and in Damascus.
Israel has said its strikes aimed to protect the Druze minority, which has a large presence in Israel and in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
Sharaa warned that Syria would not become a "testing ground for partition, secession, or sectarian incitement."
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Israeli troops have opened fire on Palestinians gathering near food distribution sites in southern Gaza, killing at least 32 people, according to witnesses and hospital officials.
The deadly shootings occurred Saturday near facilities run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a controversial aid group backed by the US and Israel.
The DPA news agency reported that at least 37 people were killed. The deaths were reported to have been near two aid hubs.
At one site in the Khan Younis area, about 100 were wounded by gunfire and shelling and brought to Nasser Hospital from the nearby al-Tina district.
Hospital staff warned that the death toll could rise due to the severity of many injuries.
The Israeli military said it was investigating the incident in response to media inquiries.
The GHF began operations in late May after a prolonged Israeli blockade of aid. Supported by both Israel and the US, the foundation has drawn criticism from the United Nations for running too few centers and putting civilians at risk.
According to the UN, hundreds of people have died near aid convoys and distribution hubs in Gaza since the end of May.
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Unrest in Syria continued on Saturday following increased tensions based around the region of Sweida in the south where Druze and Bedouin factions have been fighting.
The deployment of Syrian forces during the week resulted in Israel launching strikes on Syria, including in the capital Damascus.
US, Arab and Turkish support brought about a ceasefire between Syria and Damascus.
At the same time, the situation in Gaza remains dire with many desparate for aid, but with Israel only allowing aid centers to be operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an aid group backed by Israel and the United States.
There have been numerous reports of Palestinians being killed as they gather to receive aid since the GHF started operating in the enclave.
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Syria: Are parliamentary elections a new beginning? – DW – 08/02/2025
Syria is set to elect a new parliament in September. Given the excessive violence in minority areas, the election is likely to be a difficult challenge for both the government and Syrian citizens. In mid-September, Syrians are set to elect their new parliament for the first time since the fall of the authoritarian Assad regime, which had shaped the country's politics for over half a century. The new parliament in Damascus is expected to have 210 members, 60 more than the current provisional parliament, which was formed in March this year. The new parliament will serve for a transitional period of three years, at the end of which a new constitution is to be adopted. Foreign election observers are allowed. Areas that are not under government control at present, such as the Kurdish-controlled regions and the predominantly Druze province of Sweida, which was recently shaken by violent unrest, will continue to have seats allocated on the basis of their population, according to the Syrian state news agency SANA. The fact that elections are taking place is a truly historic moment, said Sarah Bassisseh, a political scientist researching at the University of Tübingen. "Syriais going through a difficult transition phase. But the fact that the country now has a new electoral system gives many Syrians great hope, even if they are aware of the difficulties associated with the elections, particularly the general loss of trust among smaller sectarian and ethnic groups in the government," she said. This makes it all the more important for the country's political leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, to convince these groups that the elections are transparent and legitimate. Middle East expert Birgit Schaebler, historian and professor at the University of Erfurt and director of the Orient Institute in Beirut until 2022, takes a similar view. To characterize the upcoming elections, she compares them to the practices under the ousted Assad regime: under the rule of former president Bashar Assad, two-thirds of the seats automatically went to the dominant Baath Party and its allies. "This meant they could never lose," she told DW. "The parliament was correspondingly weak and it was primarily a debating club that rubber-stamped the president's directives," she explained. That is now set to change: 140 members of parliament are to be elected in a democratic process by regional electoral committees, although the details are yet to be clarified. The remaining 70 members of parliament are to be appointed by interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa. However, the president's significant influence on the elections is seen particularly controversial in Syria, especially since not all citizens and population groups believe that he has truly distanced himself from his former militant Islamist links. "Even in his current government, Ahmed al-Sharaa surrounded himself with people close to him," said Sarah Bassisseh. "It is composed of close associates," she explains. In her view, the appointment of a Christian, Hind Kabawat, as Minister of Social Affairs was intended to demonstrate diversity and inclusivity. "But many Syrians are skeptical that this is a sincere gesture and isn't intended to distract from the fact that the government as a whole is heavily dominated by al-Sharaa's confidants," she told DW. In turn, parts of the population fear that this policy will continue with regard to the new parliament. "It is at least unclear how diverse and inclusive it will ultimately be," Bassisseh said. Scepticism also prevails due to the fact that the remaining 140 members of parliament will not be directly elected, but rather appointed by regional electoral committees. However, Birgit Schaebler doubts that direct elections would even be possible given the severely weakened infrastructure and logistics caused by 14 years of civil war. She points out that al-Sharaa is sticking to the election date despite the recent violence in the Druze region. "He could have postponed it, yet the fact that he has not done so can certainly be seen as a positive sign," she said. Moreover, al-Sharaa is under pressure both nationally and internationally, according to the expert. "The government has lost a great deal of trust as a result of the recent violence and Al-Sharaa must regain that trust," she told DW. The question of who he will appoint to the 70 non-elected seats is likely to be a key factor in this, Schaebler believes. "Of course, ultimately all population groups want to see themselves represented in parliament," she said. It remains to be seen whether religious and ethnic minorities will participate in the election, and if so, to what extent following the violence of recent weeks, Sarah Bassisseh said. She believes that members of these groups are likely to be cautious, at the very least. "It is important here to emphasize that there has been a systematic exclusion of some groups, including women, from state politics and institutions, which was greatly intensified by recent violence," she told DW, adding that "this will potentially pose structural limits to genuine participation by these groups, such as the lack of incentives, lack of safety, and lack of accessibility, just to name a few." Bassisseh finds it therefore particularly questionable whether a fair and genuine participation of different ethnic and religious groups will be seen. "The lack of trust in both the government and the credibility of the electoral process itself might disincentivize authentic engagement of some of these groups," she said, emphasizing that "there isn't a guarantee of fair representation for them in the final 140 seats, any representation they might get from the presidential 70 seats will be tailored to the government's parameters." Schaebler is somewhat more optimistic although she agrees that trust between the government and minorities has been damaged. She also points out that some minorities, such as the Druze, are themselves politically divided. For example, Druze leader Hikmat al-Hijri is not particularly inclined to engage in compromise with the Syrian government. Instead, he maintains close contacts with Israel, whose armed forces provided military support to the Druze in their conflict with Sunni Bedouins and parts of the government forces in July. "Still, I consider it unlikely that al-Hijri's faction could prevail," said Schaebler. She therefore does not expect the Druze to boycott the election. "Not only among the Druze, but also among the other minorities, most people will want to participate in the new Syria, provided the government respects their regional and local interests."
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Germany updates: Domestic violence at all-time high — report – DW – 08/02/2025
Over 250,000 people suffered domestic violence in Germany last year, according to a media report citing official figures. Trains are once again running on a major railroad route after suspected sabotage. DW has more. Nearly 257,000 people were registered as victims of domestic violence last year, a new record, a report by the weekly has said. This means that a person suffered mistreatment at the hands of a partner, ex-partner or family member every two minutes or so on average, according to figures from the Federal Criminal Police Office cited by the paper. Meanwhile, the section of railroad between the western cities of Düsseldorf and Duisburg has reopened after repairs to damage caused by suspected sabotage on Thursday. Train services resumed early on Saturday on the railway line between Düsseldorf and Duisburg in western Germany after successful repairs to cable damage caused by arson attacks. A railway spokesman said test runs had been conducted before the resumption of services to ensure that all was functioning correctly. The suspected arson attacks caused damage to cables vital for operating switches and signals. Police believe left-wing extremists were behind the disturbance and are treating the incident as sabotage. A leftist group has claimed responsibility for the attacks in a letter that is being examined by police. Herbert Reul, the interior minister of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, where the attacks occurred, told a press conference that the extremist group had "carried out several acts of sabotage in the Dusseldorf area in recent years." The route between Düsseldorf and Duisburg is one of Germany's busiest railway connections, with more than 620 passenger trains using the line every day. A German consumer group has launched legal action against several budget airlines, saying that their charges for hand luggage violate existing law. Ramona Pop, the chairwoman of the vzbv consumer umbrella body, told the daily that many carriers were "charging inadmissible fees and thus misleading consumers about flight prices." She said that while current rules obliged airlines to carry reasonably sized hand luggage free of charge, many budget airlines allowed only a small personal item in the base fare, demanding a paid upgrade for larger items. She said the vzbv had issued formal warnings to several carriers, with lawsuits filed against Ryanair, EasyJet, Wizzair and Vueling Airlines. The vzbv's legal action is part of a broader Europe-wide campaign, she said. The group is basing its legal actions on a ruling by the European Court of Justice in 2014 that hand luggage is a fundamental necessity of air travel rather than an optional extra provided by an airline. Cases of violence within private households have reached a record level, according to a report by the weekly that cites statistics from the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA). Altogether 256,942 people were registered as victims of domestic violence in 2024, a 3.7% increase over the previous year, the paper said. Women suffer the most from domestic violence, making up 73% of registered cases, according to the report. Violence from partners or ex-partners accounted for 171,069 victims, a 1.9% increase over 2024. There was also a 7.3% increase in violence between family members, with 94,873 cases, according to the BKA. Over the past five years, domestic violence has surged by almost 14%, the BKA says from the team in DW's newroom on the banks of the Rhine in Bonn! Today, we will be looking at the latest statistics showing another worrying rise in the number of cases of domestic violence in the country. Germany's railroad system is also in focus following what seems to have been a case of major sabotage on a key section. If you are interested in the major talking points in Europe's largest economy, we hope we have the right stories for you here in our blog on Saturday, August 2!
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How Trump's high tariffs against Brazil could backfire – DW – 08/01/2025
Brazil will pay as much as 50% tariffs on goods exported to the United States. But experts say the tariffs, along with sanctions on a Brazilian judge, indicate this isn't about economics but about Trump's politics. The newly announced tariffs by the US government on Brazilian imports, as well as Washington's move to sanction Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes "for serious human rights abuse," has caused a strong reaction in Brazil. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has condemned American interference in the Brazilian legal system, calling it "unacceptable." The political motivation behind these measures undermines Brazil's sovereignty and threatens the relationship between the two countries, Lula said. From August 6, the US will impose tariffs of 50% on Brazilian imports into America. Somewhat surprisingly, around 700 Brazilian products were exempted. But experts have said this still puts the average tariff on Brazilian goods at around 30%. The European Union and Japan are only paying 15% tariffs. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The US government, under President Donald Trump, has justified its new global tariffs by blaming a bilateral trade imbalance. The Trump administration has also given the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro as an explanation for the punitive tariffs. Judge de Moraes is presiding over the trial of Bolsonaro, who is accused of masterminding a plot to stay in power despite his 2022 election defeat. The personal sanctions on de Moraes come under the US' Magnitsky Act, which allows the American government to sanction foreign government officials worldwide for human rights offenses. Among other things, de Moraes could see any assets he has in the US frozen. The US government had already prevented de Moraes and other Brazilian Supreme Court judges from entering the country. "The Magnitsky Act was previously used against the US' enemies but it always used to have a basis in human rights," said Demetrio Magnoli, a sociologist and foreign affairs columnist in Brazil. "But by using it for the first time against a judge in a democracy, Trump is shattering the human rights foundations of this law." As for the high tariffs, Magnoli told DW it's not unusual for Trump to use tariffs as a weapon in his trade war and deal-making. "But in the case of Brazil, he is using both tariffs and the Magnitsky Act for political and ideological reasons," the commentator noted. "A unique case worldwide and a direct attack on a democratic country and a US ally." Judge de Moraes has been seen as a nuisance by American right wingers since he ordered social media platform, X (formerly Twitter) blocked for several weeks in late 2024. De Moraes demanded that user accounts that violated Brazilian law be removed, part of an attempt to crack down on anti-democratic, far-right voices. Billionaire Elon Musk, the owner of X, tried to get around the court-ordered block and called for de Moraes to be impeached. But de Moraes actually became a target for Trump earlier than that, because of Bolsonaro. In late 2022, the former president was accused of planning a coup against his successor, Lula, something that could carry a sentence of up to 40 years in prison. Bolsonaro and his co-defendants have disputed this charge, and Trump has described it as "a witch hunt." De Moraes has also investigated Bolsonaro for, among other things, manufacturing disinformation and has convicted Bolsonaro's supporters for storming the government district in Brasilia in January 2023. As a result, the judge has been celebrated as a defender of democracy in Brazil, particularly by those on the left. But perhaps because of the parallels to Trump's own past — his supporters also stormed government buildings in January 2021, and Trump previously insisted the 2020 election was "stolen" from him — de Moraes' actions have been like a red rag to Brazil's bullish right wingers, and now also to Trump supporters. However, Guilherme Casaroes, a professor at the Sao Paulo School of Business Administration at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, sees a bright side. The fact that, contrary to his initial announcement two weeks ago, Trump is allowing numerous tariff exemptions means that Brazil did well in negotiations with the US, he said. "But it also clearly shows that Trump's motivation is not so much commercial and more political," said Casaroes. "Especially because Brazil actually has a trade deficit with the US." The expert believes there are three key factors influencing Trump's attack on Brazil. Firstly, the country's closer ties with China, which makes Brazil a battleground in the geopolitical conflict between the US and China. Secondly, this fight is ideological: Trump wants to be seen supporting his allies around the world. That includes Bolsonaro. And thirdly, the economic interests of US tech giants: "They don't want social media regulation," said Casaroes. In Brazil, Trump's onslaught has triggered Brazilian nationalism, especially on social media. That's fair, said sociologist and political commentator Celso Rocha de Barros. He described what he calls the "American intervention against the Brazilian Supreme Court" as "unacceptable imperialist aggression" and insisted that in the future, Brazil must "negotiate economic agreements without giving an inch on democratic and political issues." Rocha de Barros believes de Moraes is actually looking stronger after this episode. Even Supreme Court justices who felt more favorably about Bolsonaro don't want to be giving anybody the impression that they support foreign intervention in their own court, he said. But Demetrio Magnoli believes the US' attacks on de Moraes could actually find favor with parts of the Brazilian population. Many locals are unhappy with their Supreme Court, he pointed out. This is partially because what some think are the judges' too-high salaries, but it's also because of the high penalties meted out to what Magnoli called "the useful idiots of the Bolsonaro camp," those who participated in the January 2023 rioting. Some Brazilians also believe de Moraes became too powerful during the trial against Bolsonaro. In other ways, Trump's attacks actually offers the Brazilian president an opportunity. Lula is polling badly, but if he manages to convince the Brazilian parliament to help an economy badly hit by Trump's tariffs, he might become more popular again. And that would be the opposite of what the US leader was hoping for, Magnoli said.
