Israel and Syria agree to ceasefire, US ambassador to Turkey says
On Wednesday, Israel launched airstrikes in Damascus, while also hitting government forces in the south, demanding they withdraw and saying that Israel aimed to protect Syrian Druze - part of a small but influential minority that also has followers in Lebanon and Israel.
"We call upon Druze, Bedouins, and Sunnis to put down their weapons and together with other minorities build a new and united Syrian identity," Barrack said in a post on X.
The Israeli embassy in Washington and Syrian Consulate in Canada did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The ceasefire announcement came after the U.S. worked to put an end to the conflict. On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said steps had been agreed to end a "troubling and horrifying situation".
It also followed what appeared to be a de-escalation of the conflict after government troops withdrew from Sweida, where violence had been centered.
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Telegraph
27 minutes ago
- Telegraph
DRC and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels agree to end bloody conflict
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group signed a ceasefire deal on Saturday to end fighting that has devastated the country's mineral-rich east. The two sides signed a declaration of principles, whose terms include a 'permanent ceasefire', after three months of talks in Qatar. It followed a separate peace deal between the Congolese and Rwandan governments, signed in Washington last month. Rich in natural resources, especially lucrative minerals, eastern DRC has been wracked by conflict for more than three decades, creating a humanitarian crisis and forcing hundreds of thousands of people from their homes. More than 7,000 people were killed in a lightning offensive by M23 in January and February, in which the group seized swathes of territory including the key provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu. In the agreement the warring parties agreed to 'uphold their commitment to a permanent ceasefire', including refraining from 'hate propaganda' and 'any attempt to seize by force new positions'. The deal includes a roadmap for restoring state authority in eastern DRC, and an agreement for the two sides to open direct negotiations toward a comprehensive peace agreement. Sumbu Sita Mambu, a Congolese presidential envoy, and Benjamin Mbonimpa, the M23 permanent secretary, shook hands after signing the deal at a ceremony in Doha. M23 had insisted on seeking its own ceasefire deal with Kinshasa, saying the DRC-Rwanda deal signed in Washington in June left out various 'problems' that still needed to be addressed. The two sides said the new deal aligned with the Washington agreement, which Donald Trump, the US president, said at the time was the start of 'a new chapter of hope and opportunity' for the region. Patrick Muyaya, a Congolese government spokesman, said the deal took account of the DRC's 'red lines', including 'the non-negotiable withdrawal of the M23 from occupied areas followed by the deployment of our institutions', including the armed forces. The two sides agreed to implement the deal's terms by July 29 at the latest, and to start negotiations toward the comprehensive agreement by Aug 8. Paul Kagame, the Rwandan president, and Felix Tshisekedi, the Congolese president, are due to meet in the coming months to solidify the Washington peace deal, whose terms have not yet been implemented. Questions remain over an expected side deal on economic issues after Mr Trump boasted of securing mineral wealth in the vast central African nation. In April, Mr Tshisekedi said he had discussed a deal for access to the DRC's mineral wealth with Massad Boulos, the US special envoy. Mr Boulos, who was at the signing ceremony in Doha, called the restoration of the Congolese government's control over its eastern territory 'one of the most important clauses' in the new deal, but told a news conference that 'we know that there are no magic solutions' to end the conflict, 'especially regarding the timeline'. Previous ceasefire agreements for eastern DRC have collapsed in the past. Neighbouring Rwanda denies providing military backing to M23, but UN experts say the Rwandan army played a 'critical' role in the group's offensive, including combat operations. The front line has stabilised since February, but fighting was still breaking out regularly between opposing forces. The African Union hailed the new agreement as a 'significant development', saying: 'This marks a major milestone in the ongoing efforts to achieve lasting peace, security, and stability in eastern DRC and the wider Great Lakes region.'
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Syrian forces struggle to implement ceasefire in Druze region
DAMASCUS, July 19 (Reuters) - Syria's Islamist-led government struggled to implement a ceasefire in the predominantly Druze region of Sweida on Saturday, with machinegun fire and mortar shelling ringing out after days of bloodshed. Reuters reporters heard gunfire from inside the city of Sweida and saw shells land in nearby villages. There were no immediate, confirmed reports of casualties. The government earlier said its security forces were deploying in the southern region and urged all parties to respect the ceasefire after nearly a week of factional bloodshed in which hundreds have been killed. Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa said in a speech that "Arab and American" mediation had helped bring calm, and criticised Israel for airstrikes against Syrian forces and Damascus during the week. The fighting is the latest challenge to the control of the Islamist-dominated government in Damascus, which came to power after rebels toppled autocratic president Bashar al-Assad in December. It has involved clashes between the Druze - a religious minority native to southern Syria, the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and parts of Lebanon and Jordan - and Syrian Bedouin tribes. It has led to clashes between government forces and Druze gunmen and attacks on the Druze community by government forces. The fighting has drawn in neighbouring Israel, which carried out airstrikes in southern Syria and on the Defence Ministry in Damascus this week. Israel says it is protecting the Druze, who also form a significant minority in Israel. But Israel is at odds with Washington. The U.S. supports a centralised Syria under Sharaa's government, which has pledged to rule for all citizens, while Israel says the government is dominated by jihadists and a danger to minorities. In March, Syria's military was involved in mass killings of members of the Alawite minority, which much of Assad's elite belonged to. It also clashed with Druze gunmen in May. The fighting in Sweida province began with clashes between Bedouin fighters and Druze factions before government security forces were sent in. In a statement on Saturday, the Syrian presidency announced an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire and urged all parties to end hostilities immediately. The interior ministry said internal security forces had begun deploying. Sharaa called for calm and said Syria would not be a "testing ground for partition, secession, or sectarian incitement". "The Israeli intervention pushed the country into a dangerous phase that threatened its stability," he said in a televised speech. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused him of siding with the perpetrators. "In al-Shara's Syria, it is very dangerous to be a member of a minority — Kurd, Druze, Alawite, or Christian," he posted on X. "This has been proven time and again over the past six months." Mansour Namour, a resident of a village near Sweida city, said mortar shells were still landing near his home on Saturday afternoon, and that at least 22 people had been wounded. A doctor in Sweida said a local hospital was full of bodies and wounded people from days of violence. "All the injuries are from bombs, some people with their chests wounded. There are also injuries to limbs from shrapnel," said Omar Obeid, director of the hospital. U.S. envoy Tom Barrack announced on Friday that Syria and Israel had agreed to a ceasefire. Barrack, who is both U.S. ambassador to Turkey and Washington's Syria envoy, urged Druze, Bedouins and Sunnis, together with other minorities, to "build a new and united Syrian identity". Israel has attacked Syrian military facilities and weaponry in the seven months since Assad fell, and says it wants areas of southern Syria near its border to remain demilitarised. On Friday, an Israeli official said Israel had agreed to allow Syrian forces limited access to the Sweida area for the next two days.
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Syria must protect Druze or be shunned by the world, says Israel
Syria should not be allowed back into the international community unless it is able to uphold protections for the Druze and other minority groups in the country, Israel has said. As an 'immediate and comprehensive' ceasefire was announced between the two countries on Saturday, Gideon Sa'ar, the Israeli foreign minister, claimed Ahmed al-Sharaa, the Syrian president, was continuing to support Bedouin tribes against the Druze minority. Mr Sa'ar wrote on X that in Syria 'it is very dangerous to be a member of a minority – Kurd, Druze, Alawite, or Christian'. He added: 'This has been proven time and again over the past six months. Doubts over government's ability to unify nation 'The international community has a duty to ensure the security and rights of the minorities in Syria, and to condition Syria's renewed acceptance into the family of nations on their protection.' Mr al-Sharaa has vowed many times to protect all minorities in Syria since taking power in December, after leading the rebel coalition that toppled Bashar al-Assad, the country's long-time dictator. But doubts have persisted over his ability to unify the diverse nation, and rebuild it after the ravages of more than a decade of civil war. A recent week-long spate of deadly clashes in Sweida, in southern Syria, between two minority groups – the Druze, a religious sect, and the Bedouins, a nomadic tribe – now pose the biggest challenge to Mr al-Sharaa's ability to re-establish peace and to unify all Syrians. Earlier this week, after Syrian government forces were sent to Sweida to restore order, Israel launched attacks on Syria prompted by concerns of a military buildup near its territory. Israel also said it was acting to defend the Druze, which has a community of around 143,000 in Israel, where it is considered a loyal minority sect. The strikes included an attack on the defence ministry headquarters in Damascus. The Syria-Israel truce was announced on Saturday by Tom Barrack, the US special envoy to Syria. 'Thankful to all sides for their break from chaos and confusion as we attempt to navigate all parties to a more durable and peaceful solution in Syria,' Mr Barrack posted on X. The Syrian presidency confirmed there would be an 'immediate and comprehensive' ceasefire within its borders, saying a halt in fighting was needed 'to spare Syrian blood, preserve the unity of Syrian territory, the safety of its people, and in response to national and humanitarian responsibility'. But whether Mr al-Sharaa will succeed at this crucial moment – one that could define the tone of his leadership – remains to be seen. 'I don't see him as our president. I respect him for freeing us from the regime, from Assad, ' said Tamara, a Syrian Druze who declined to give her full name out of fear of retribution. 'But [the government] is not representative of anyone; the people did not choose al-Sharaa; he chose himself for us.' Syrians 'suffered a long time under repression, and they need a leader willing to guide the country to a more secure, bright future; not jihadi extremist conflict, and non-stop violence,' she added. The Syrian government has said that a special unit is being deployed to Sweida, the heartland of the country's Druze, in hopes of restoring calm as swiftly as possible. The death toll from violence there has risen to 940 since last weekend. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the dead included 326 Druze fighters and 262 Druze civilians, 182 of whom were 'summarily executed by defence and interior ministry personnel'. They also included 312 government security personnel and 21 Sunni Bedouin, three of them civilians who were 'summarily executed by Druze fighters'. Another 15 government troops were killed in Israeli strikes, the Observatory said. The violence in Sweida erupted last Sunday, after a Druze vegetable seller was attacked and robbed. Violence and tensions have spread to other parts of the country, including the capital, Damascus. A peaceful protest of about 20 people on Friday night calling for an end to bloodshed, held near the parliament building, was dispersed by people wielding guns and knives – as well as at least one large sword. University students have also posted videos online calling for the expulsion of students from minority groups – a sign that restoring peace will be an uphill battle. Back in Sweida, the situation remains dire and chaotic. Tamara has only managed small snatches of conversation with her family in Sweida because of disrupted communications, including a five-minute call with her mother on Saturday morning during which she learned a friend and her entire family had died. 'It's a complete disaster zone' 'Everyone is panicking; people don't know what's going to happen even in the house next to them. It's a complete disaster zone,' she said. Her family fled their home on the first day of fighting, and is now sheltering with others. Soon, Tamara fears, they will run out of food. New checkpoints have cropped up across the country, in particular in Damascus and on the main road linking to Sweida. Syrians report being asked by government security personnel manning those checkpoints where they are from, and to which group they belong – a question that underscores just how divided the nation remains. Such checkpoints and road closures are slowing the movement of people, as well as humanitarian aid deliveries at a time when hospitals are overwhelmed with the injured and water is in short supply. 'It is very difficult for us to operate there…at the moment our capacity to deliver aid is very limited,' said William Spindler, a spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. 'We are calling on all parties to allow humanitarian access.' The latest violence comes after bloody battles in March, during which an estimated 1,500 Alawites were killed. Alawites are another minority sect, of which former leader Assad was a member.
