Israel and Syria agree to ceasefire, US envoy says after days of airstrikes amid mounting tensions
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ISRAEL and Syria have agreed to a ceasefire, a US envoy has said, after days of airstrikes amid mounting tensions.
US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack revealed on Friday the two countries agreed to a ceasefire supported by Turkey, Jordan and neighbours.
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Damaged property is seen following clashes between Bedouin and Druze groups
Credit: Getty
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Bedouin fighters ride on a vehicle along a street as Sweida province has been engulfed by nearly a week of violence
Credit: Reuters
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A gunman is seen in front of burning grass as clashes between the alliance of Bedouin Arabs and tribal forces and armed Druze factions continue
Credit: Getty
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US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack announced a ceasefire was reached
Credit: AP
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.
A rebel offensive led by Islamist insurgent groups ousted Syria's longtime leader, Bashar Assad, in December - bringing a dramatic end to a nearly 14-year civil war.
Since then, the country's new rulers have struggled to unite to establish complete control.
The primarily Sunni Muslim leaders have faced suspicion from religious and ethnic minorities.
And fears increased after clashes between government forces and pro-Assad armed groups in March spiralled into separatist revenge attacks.
Hundreds of civilians from the Alawite religious minority, to which ousted Assad belongs, were killed.
In Israel, the Druze are seen as a loyal minority and often serve in the military.
Meanwhile in Syria, the Druze have been divided over how to deal with the country's new leaders.
Some have advocated for integrating into the new system.
But others remained suspicious and pressed for an autonomous Druze region.
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