Israel bombs Syria's Druze city of Suwayda hours after ceasefire
The Syrian Ministry of Interior said in a statement on Tuesday that armed groups had resumed attacks on Syrian government forces with support from the Israeli Air Force.
Syria condemned Israel's intervention as a violation of international law, while influential Druze Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri said in a statement that it was Syrian government troops who breached a truce announced earlier in the day.
The Israeli air attacks came after Hikmat al-Hajri urged local fighters to confront what he described as a barbaric attack from government forces.
Israel has claimed its attacks on the southern Syrian region bordering Israel are meant to protect the Druze minority, which it sees as potential allies.
In a statement shared on social media, Israeli Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli said that Israel could not 'stand idly by' as the Druze engaged in fighting.
'We see massacres and insults against the Druze, and we must fight against the terrorism regime in Syria,' Chikli said, claiming it was a 'grave mistake' to acknowledge Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa as the 'legitimate leader' of the country.
Fighting between Bedouin tribes and local Druze fighters has reportedly killed more than 30 people and injured more than 100 since Sunday in Suwayda. Bedouin and Druze armed factions have a longstanding feud in Suwayda, with violence occasionally erupting.
United States envoy to Syria Tom Barrack said Washington was in contact with all sides 'to navigate towards calm and integration'.
Al Jazeera's Osama Bin Javaid reporting from Damascus said that the situation in Suwayda has 'further escalated, with multiple Israeli drone and air strikes they claim are in support of Druze fighters'.
Syrian government declared 'complete ceasefire'
The latest developments come hours after Syrian Minister of Defence Murhaf Abu Qasra declared a truce in a post on social media, saying: 'To all units operating within the city of Suwayda, we declare a complete ceasefire.'
Abu Qasra's announcement came shortly after the ministry deployed government forces to halt the fighting between Bedouin tribes and local fighters. The recent fighting was the first outbreak of deadly violence in the area since fighting between members of the Druze community and security forces killed dozens of people in April and May.
Syria's Druze population numbers about 700,000, with Suwayda being home to the sect's largest community. The Druze religious sect is a minority group that originated as a 10th-century offshoot of a branch of Shia Islam.
In Syria, the Druze primarily reside in the southern Suwayda province and some suburbs of Damascus, mainly in Jaramana and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya to the south. Since the overthrow of longtime Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad in December, concerns have been raised over the rights and safety of minorities under the new authorities, who have also struggled to re-establish security more broadly.
In April, hundreds of Alawite civilians were killed in apparent retribution after fighting broke out between government forces and armed groups loyal to al-Assad, who belongs to the Alawite religious sect.
Israel has launched hundreds of air strikes on neighbouring Syria since December 2024, averaging one every three to four days.
The latest attacks come as the Netanyahu government continues to wage war on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, killing at least 58,479 people since October 2023.
As well as Gaza and Syria, Israel has also launched attacks on the occupied West Bank, Lebanon, Iran and Yemen in recent months.
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Al Jazeera
an hour ago
- Al Jazeera
Syrian troops clear Bedouin fighters from Suwayda, declare end to clashes
Syria's government has cleared Bedouin fighters from the predominantly Druze city of Suwayda and declared an end to the deadly clashes there, hours after deploying security forces to the restive southern region. The announcement on Saturday came after Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa ordered a new ceasefire between Bedouin and Druze groups, following a separate United States-brokered deal to avert further Israeli military intervention in the clashes. Shortly before the government claim, there were reports of machine-gun fire in the city of Suwayda as well as mortar shelling in nearby villages. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Nour al-Din Baba, a spokesman for the Syrian interior ministry, said in a statement carried by the official Sana news agency that the fighting ended 'following intensive efforts' to implement the ceasefire agreement and the deployment of government forces in the northern and western areas of Suwayda province. He said the city of Suwayda has now been 'cleared of all tribal fighters, and clashes within the city's neighbourhoods have been brought to a halt'. Israeli intervention The fighting broke out last week when the abduction of a Druze truck driver on a public highway set off a series of revenge attacks, and resulted in tribal fighters from all over the country streaming into Suwayda in support of the Bedouin community there. The clashes drew in Syrian government troops, too. Israel also intervened in the conflict on Wednesday, carrying out heavy air attacks on Suwayda and Syria's capital, Damascus, claiming it was to protect the Druze after leaders of the minority group accused government forces of abuses against them. The fighting has claimed the lives of at least 260 people and wounded 1,700 others, according to the Syrian Ministry of Health. Other groups, however, put the figure at more than 900 killed. It is the latest challenge to the control of al-Sharaa's government, which took over after rebel groups toppled President Bashar al-Assad in December. Al-Sharaa, in a televised statement on Saturday, called on all parties to lay down arms and help the government restore peace. 'While we thank the [Bedouin] clans for their heroic stance we call on them to adhere to the ceasefire and follow the orders of the state,' he said. 'All should understand this moment requires unity and full cooperation so we can overcome these challenges and preserve our country from foreign interference and internal sedition.' He condemned Israel's intervention in the unrest, saying it 'pushed the country into a dangerous phase that threatened its stability'. Following the president's call, Bedouin groups confirmed leaving the city of Suwayda. 'Following consultations with all members of Suwayda's clans and tribes, we have decided to adhere to the ceasefire, prioritise reason and restraint, and allow the state's authorised institutions the space to carry out their responsibilities in restoring security and stability,' they said in a statement. 'Therefore, we declare that all our fighters have been withdrawn from the city of Suwayda,' they added. Al Jazeera's Mohamed Vall, reporting from the Syrian capital, Damascus, said the Druze, too, seem to accept the truce. 'Hikmat Al Hajri, a prominent spiritual leader, has called for all Bedouin fighters to be escorted safely out of Suwayda,' he said. 'It has been a volatile week. The abduction of a Druze truck driver for a few hours on a public highway led to acts of revenge and the killing of hundreds of people. More than 80,000 civilians fled Suwayda, houses and infrastructure destroyed. So while there is hope, there is also doubt that this conflict is over,' he added. World welcome truce Jordan meanwhile hosted talks with Syria and the US on efforts to consolidate the ceasefire in Suwayda. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shibani and US special envoy for Syria Thomas Barak 'discussed the situation in Syria and efforts to consolidate the ceasefire reached around Suwayda Governorate to prevent bloodshed and preserve the safety of civilians,' according to a readout by the Jordanian government. The three officials agreed on 'practical steps' to support the ceasefire in Suwayda, including the release of detainees held by all parties, Syrian security force deployments and community reconciliation efforts. Safadi also welcomed the Syrian government's 'commitment to holding accountable all those responsible for violations against Syrian citizens' in the Suwayda area, the statement said. Countries around the world also called for the truce to be upheld. The United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary David Lammy said in a post on X that he was horrified by the violence in southern Syria and said 'a sustainable ceasefire is vital'. France's Foreign Ministry stressed the need for 'Syrian authorities to ensure the safety and rights of all segments of the Syrian people' and called for investigations into abuses against civilians in Suwayda. Japan also expressed concern over the violence, including the Israeli strikes, and called for the ceasefire to be implemented swiftly. It added that it 'strongly urges all parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint, preserve Syria's territorial integrity and national unity, and respect its independence and sovereignty'.
Qatar Tribune
5 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
Syria declares new Suwayda ceasefire, deploys forces to ‘restore security'
Agencies Damascus Syria's security forces have begun deploying in the restive southern province of Suwayda, a Ministry of Interior spokesperson has said, where heavy fighting between Druze and Bedouin armed groups and government forces has left hundreds dead, compounded by Israeli military intervention. The deployment on Saturday came hours after the United States announced that Israel and Syria have agreed to a ceasefire, an as yet uncertain truce amidst overnight fighting. Syria's government announced the ceasefire early on Saturday, saying in a statement it is being enacted 'to spare Syrian blood, preserve the unity of Syrian territory, the safety of its people'. The country's president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in a televised address, stated that he 'received international calls to intervene in what is happening in Suwayda and restore security to the country'. Israeli intervention has 'reignited tensions' in the city, with fighting there 'a dangerous turning point', he said, also thanking the US for its support. Earlier, Interior Ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba had said in a statement on Telegram that 'internal security forces have begun deploying in Suwayda province … with the aim of protecting civilians and putting an end to the chaos.' Ethnically charged clashes between Druze and Bedouin armed groups and government forces have reportedly left hundreds dead in recent days. On Wednesday, Israel launched heavy air attacks on Syria's Ministry of Defence in the heart of Damascus, and also hit Syrian government forces in the Suwayda region, claiming it had done so to protect the Druze, who it calls its 'brothers'. 'Al-Sharaa said that national unity was a priority for his government and that part of the role of the government was to be a neutral referee between all parties,' said Al Jazeera's Mohamed Vall, reporting from the capital Damascus. 'He praised the people of Suwayda, other than the few elements that wanted to sow trouble, saying that both Druze and Arab communities in the city were noble people.' It was unclear whether Syrian troops reached Suwayda city as of Saturday morning or were still on the city's outskirts, Vall said. Bedouin tribal fighters had been waiting to hear more from the government about the ceasefire, while Druze leaders have varying attitudes on it – some welcoming it, and others pledging to continue fighting, he added. Bedouin fighters in Damascus on Saturday were preparing to travel to the Druze-majority city to support Bedouin fighters there. On Friday, an Israeli official, who declined to be named, told reporters that in light of the 'ongoing instability in southwest Syria', Israel had agreed to allow the 'limited entry of the [Syrian] internal security forces into Suwayda district for the next 48 hours'. According to Syria's Health Ministry, the death toll from fighting in the Druze-majority city is now at least 260. An estimated 80,000 people have fled the area, according to the International Organization for Migration.
Qatar Tribune
5 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
Gaza students sit exams for first time since war began in October 2023
Agencies Gaza Hundreds of Palestinian students in Gaza are taking a crucial end-of-secondary-school exam organised by the besieged enclave's Ministry of Education in the hope of entering university studies. Earlier this month, the ministry announced Saturday's exam, which will be the first since Israel began its genocidal war on Gaza after the Hamas-led attack in southern Israel in October 2023. The ministry confirmed that about 1,500 students are registered to take the exam, which will be conducted electronically using specialised software, adding that all necessary technical preparations have been carried out to ensure smooth administration. Some students are sitting the online exam at home, while others are taking it at venues depending on the region they are in, with safety considerations in mind, given the daily Israeli bombardment. Al Jazeera's Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Deir el-Balah, stressed that for Palestinian students, the exam is a critical gateway to higher education, scholarships and a future beyond the Israeli blockade. He said: 'Even in a warzone, with no classrooms, no books and barely any internet, Gaza's students are showing up, logging in and sitting their final exam, refusing to let war erase their future.' After the war started, the education of many students in Gaza has been put on hold, and the results of Saturday's exam will allow them to continue their studies at university. Many should have been at university by now, but remained at the high school level due to the war, as Israeli attacks have devastated Gaza's education system, along with the rest of the territory's civilian infrastructure. Advertisement In response, Gaza's Education Ministry has launched an online platform – the first of its kind in Gaza – to enable high school seniors to take their final exam. 'Students have downloaded the app to take their exam, but they face many challenges,' Morad al-Agha, the exams director of the Central Gaza Governorate, told Al Jazeera. 'We have raised these concerns with the ministry to make sure they're resolved, so students can sit for their exams without disruption.' Students log in from cafes, tents and shelters – wherever they can find a charged device and a working internet connection. Before the final exam, they have completed a mock test, designed not only to test their knowledge but also the system's stability. However, students tell Al Jazeera that going digital in Gaza has not been easy. 'We are taking exams online, but it is so difficult,' student Doha Khatab said. 'The internet is weak, many of us do not have devices and there is no safe space to take the test. We also lost our books in the bombardment.' To support them, a few teachers have reopened damaged classrooms and are offering in-person guidance. 'It is the first time the ministry has done this online and students are confused, so we're trying to guide them step by step,' teacher Enam Abu Slisa told Al Jazeera. The war in Gaza and the destruction of 95 percent of educational infrastructure have left more than 660,000 children out of school – nearly all of Gaza's school-aged population, according to the United Nations. Many former UN-run schools are now being used as shelters for displaced people and also face relentless, deadly Israeli attacks. A report to the UN Human Rights Council found that Israeli forces systematically destroyed education infrastructure in Gaza. The report described these actions as potential war crimes.
