Bedouin fighters mount new offensive in Sweida against Druze fighters despite truce
The commander said the truce only applied to government forces and not to them, and said the Bedouin fighters were seeking to free Bedouins who had been detained by Druze armed groups in recent days.
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Saudi Gazette
an hour ago
- Saudi Gazette
Suwayda cleared of tribal fighters as Syrian forces implement ceasefire
DAMASCUS — The Syrian Interior Ministry announced that the city of Suwayda has been cleared of tribal fighters and that clashes within the city have come to a halt following the implementation of a nationwide ceasefire agreement. 'Following intensive efforts by the Ministry of Interior to implement the ceasefire agreement — after the deployment of its forces in the northern and western areas of Suwayda province — the city of Suwayda has been cleared of all tribal fighters, and clashes within the city's neighborhoods have been brought to a halt,' said ministry spokesperson Nour al-Din al-Baba, according to the state-run SANA news agency. The announcement came after the Syrian presidency declared a comprehensive and immediate ceasefire in the southern province, where armed clashes erupted on July 13 between Bedouin Arab tribes and local Druze militias. Violence in the region escalated rapidly, with Israeli airstrikes targeting Syrian military positions and infrastructure in Damascus. Israel cited the protection of Druze communities as justification for the strikes. Most Druze leaders in Syria, however, have publicly rejected foreign interference, emphasizing their commitment to national unity and the sovereignty of the Syrian state. The situation in Suwayda unfolded amid broader changes in the country's political landscape. Following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad's regime in December and his flight to Russia, the long-standing Baath Party rule — in power since 1963 — effectively ended. In January, a new transitional administration led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa was formed. Since then, Israel has declared the 1974 Disengagement Agreement void and intensified its military operations inside Syria. — Agencies
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Calm Reported in Syria's Sweida as Tribal Fighters Said to Withdraw
Residents reported calm in the Syrian city of Sweida on Sunday after the government declared that Bedouin fighters had withdrawn from the predominantly Druze city and the United States stepped up calls for an end to fighting. There was no sound of gunfire on Sunday morning, according to a resident speaking from the city outskirts, while a Druze source in the region said there was calm in most areas. The fighting began a week ago with clashes between Bedouin and Druze fighters. The Syrian presidency had announced a new ceasefire early on Saturday but it quickly collapsed into renewed fighting.
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Lebanon Edges Toward Divergence with Hezbollah Over US Arms Proposal
Tensions are surfacing between Hezbollah and the Lebanese state over a US-backed proposal that calls for exclusive control of weapons by Lebanon's official security institutions. While the government is reportedly open to constructive dialogue with Washington's envoy, Thomas Barrack, Hezbollah has set new preconditions that effectively stall any immediate progress. In a speech Friday evening, Hezbollah Deputy Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem framed the US initiative as an 'existential threat,' declaring that the group would not engage in discussions on national defense until such a threat is 'removed.' Qassem cited three dangers facing Lebanon: Israel along the southern border, extremist factions in the east, and what he called American efforts to 'control' Lebanon politically and militarily. His remarks come just days before Barrack is expected to return to Beirut for a third visit. US officials are awaiting a formal response to a proposal delivered last week, which urges Lebanon to adopt a clear timetable, ending by December, for implementing exclusive state control of all armed forces. Government sources say a committee representing President Joseph Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri, and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has made significant progress in drafting Lebanon's reply. That response is expected to reflect a more flexible stance than Hezbollah's, possibly committing to a phased process to bring all arms under state control, without directly confronting the group. While Hezbollah has previously hinted at a willingness to hand over its heavy weapons - such as precision missiles and drones - it now insists that Israel must first meet a series of demands. These include withdrawal from five contested points in southern Lebanon, the release of Lebanese detainees, an end to airspace violations, and the start of reconstruction efforts in war-hit areas. Meanwhile, opposition figures, particularly from the Lebanese Forces party, say Hezbollah is using the rhetoric of 'resistance' to maintain its military grip. A party source told Asharq Al-Awsat that Hezbollah's real aim is to keep its weapons while offering limited gestures, such as withdrawing from areas south of the Litani River - an approach rejected by both the Lebanese government and Washington. The source warned that failure to engage with the current diplomatic opening could expose Lebanon to renewed violence, noting that Hezbollah has already missed previous opportunities for de-escalation. 'The risk isn't just political, it's national,' the source said.
