Latest news with #Barrack
The Journal
an hour ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Fighting in south of Syria 'halted' after sectarian violence leaves more than 900 dead
FIGHTING IN SYRIA'S Sweida 'halted' today, the government said, after the southern city was recaptured by Druze fighters and state forces redeployed to the region where more than 900 people have been killed in sectarian violence. Druze fighters had pushed out rival armed factions from the city on Saturday, a monitor said, after the government ordered a ceasefire following a US-brokered deal to avert further Israeli military intervention. Sweida was 'evacuated of all tribal fighters, and clashes within the city's neighbourhoods were halted', Syria's interior ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba said in a post on Telegram. Israel had bombed government forces in both Sweida and Damascus earlier this week to force their withdrawal after they were accused of summary executions and other abuses against Druze civilians during their brief deployment in the southern province. More than 900 people have been killed in Sweida since last Sunday as sectarian clashes between the Druze and Bedouin drew in the Islamist-led government, Israel and armed tribes from other parts of Syria. Syrian security forces ride in the back of a pickup truck on the international highway near Izraa, in rural Daraa province, Syria, Saturday, July 19. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Yesterday, an Associated Foreign Press correspondent saw dozens of torched homes and vehicles and armed men setting fire to shops after looting them. But in the evening, Bassem Fakhr, spokesman for the Men of Dignity, one of the two largest Druze armed groups, told AFP there was 'no Bedouin presence in the city'. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor also said 'tribal fighters withdrew from Sweida city on Saturday evening' after Druze fighters launched a large-scale attack. Fighting nonetheless persisted in other parts of Sweida province, even as the Druze regained control of their city following days of fierce battle with armed Bedouin supported by tribal gunmen from other parts of Syria. Israel sceptical The deal between the Islamist-government and Israel had been announced by Washington early Saturday. US pointman on Syria Tom Barrack said interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 'have agreed to a ceasefire' negotiated by the United States. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later called on the Syrian government's security forces to prevent jihadists from entering and 'carrying out massacres', in a post on X. He also urged the Syrian government to 'hold accountable and bring to justice anyone guilty of atrocities including those in their own ranks'. Advertisement Barrack, who is the US ambassador to Ankara, said the deal had the backing of Turkey, a key supporter of Sharaa, as well as neighbouring Jordan. 'We call upon Druze, Bedouins and Sunnis to put down their weapons and together with other minorities build a new and united Syrian identity in peace and prosperity with its neighbours,' he wrote on X. Barrack later held a meeting in Amman with the Syrian and Jordanian top diplomats, during which they 'agreed on practical steps to support Syria in implementing the agreement', the US envoy said in a later post on X. The US administration, which alongside Turkey and Saudi Arabia has forged ties with the Islamist president despite his past links with Al-Qaeda, was critical of its Israeli ally's recent air strikes on Syria and had sought a way out for Sharaa's government. Sharaa followed up on the US announcement with a televised speech in which he announced an immediate ceasefire in Sweida and renewed his pledge to protect Syria's ethnic and religious minorities. 'The Syrian state is committed to protecting all minorities and communities in the country… We condemn all crimes committed' in Sweida, he said. The president paid tribute to the 'important role played by the United States, which again showed its support for Syria in these difficult circumstances and its concern for the country's stability'. But Israel expressed deep scepticism about Sharaa's renewed pledge to protect minorities, pointing to deadly violence against Alawites as well as Druze since he led the overthrow of longtime leader Bashar al-Assad in December. In Sharaa's Syria 'it is very dangerous to be a member of a minority — Kurd, Druze, Alawite or Christian', Foreign Minister Gideon Saar posted on X. Humanitarian corridors The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said at least 940 people had been killed in the violence since last Sunday. They included 326 Druze fighters and 262 Druze civilians, 165 of whom were summarily executed, according to the Observatory. 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. Syria's Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa on Saturday evening said that after the first phase of the ceasefire, which began on Saturday and involved the deployment of security forces to the province, a second phase would see the opening of humanitarian corridors. According to the United Nations, the fighting has displaced least 87,000 people. © Agence France-Presse
Al-Ahram Weekly
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Syrian govt says fighting in Sweida halted after tribal forces pull out - Region
Fighting in Syria's Sweida "halted" on Sunday, the government said, after the southern city was recaptured by Druze fighters and state forces redeployed to the region where more than 900 people have been killed in sectarian violence. Druze fighters had pushed out rival armed factions from the city on Saturday, a monitor said, after the government ordered a ceasefire following a US-brokered deal to avert further Israeli military intervention. Sweida was "evacuated of all tribal fighters, and clashes within the city's neighbourhoods were halted", Syria's interior ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba said in a post on Telegram. Israel had bombed government forces in both Sweida and Damascus earlier this week to force their withdrawal under the pretext of defending the Druze minority. More than 900 people have been killed in Sweida since last Sunday as sectarian clashes between the Druze and Bedouin drew in the government, Israel and armed tribes from other parts of Syria. Earlier Saturday, an AFP correspondent saw dozens of torched homes and vehicles and armed men setting fire to shops after looting them. But in the evening, Bassem Fakhr, spokesman for the Men of Dignity, one of the two largest Druze armed groups, told AFP there was "no Bedouin presence in the city". The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor also said "tribal fighters withdrew from Sweida city on Saturday evening" after Druze fighters launched a large-scale attack. Fighting nonetheless persisted in other parts of Sweida province, even as the Druze regained control of their city following days of fierce battle with armed Bedouin supported by tribal gunmen from other parts of Syria. The deal between the Syrian government and Israel had been announced by Washington early Saturday. US pointman on Syria Tom Barrack said interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "have agreed to a ceasefire" negotiated by the United States. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later called on the Syrian government's security forces to prevent jihadists from entering and "carrying out massacres", in a post on X. He also urged the Syrian government to "hold accountable and bring to justice anyone guilty of atrocities including those in their own ranks". Barrack, who is the US ambassador to Ankara, said the deal had the backing of Turkey, a key supporter of Sharaa, as well as neighbouring Jordan. "We call upon Druze, Bedouins and Sunnis to put down their weapons and together with other minorities build a new and united Syrian identity in peace and prosperity with its neighbours," he wrote on X. Barrack later held a meeting in Amman with the Syrian and Jordanian top diplomats, during which they "agreed on practical steps to support Syria in implementing the agreement", the US envoy said in a later post on X. The US administration, which alongside Turkey and Saudi Arabia has forged ties with al-Sharaa despite his past links with Al-Qaeda, was critical of Israel's recent air strikes on Syria and had sought a way out for Sharaa's government. Sharaa followed up on the US announcement with a televised speech in which he announced an immediate ceasefire in Sweida and renewed his pledge to protect Syria's ethnic and religious minorities. "The Syrian state is committed to protecting all minorities and communities in the country... We condemn all crimes committed" in Sweida, he said. The president paid tribute to the "important role played by the United States, which again showed its support for Syria in these difficult circumstances and its concern for the country's stability". But Israel expressed deep scepticism about Sharaa's renewed pledge to protect minorities, pointing to deadly violence against Alawites as well as Druze since he led the overthrow of longtime leader Bashar al-Assad in December. In Sharaa's Syria "it is very dangerous to be a member of a minority -- Kurd, Druze, Alawite or Christian", Foreign Minister Gideon Saar posted on X. Humanitarian corridors The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said at least 940 people had been killed in the violence since Sunday. They included 326 Druze fighters and 262 Druze civilians, 165 of whom were summarily executed, according to the Observatory. 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. Syria's Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa on Saturday evening said that after the first phase of the ceasefire, which began on Saturday and involved the deployment of security forces to the province, a second phase would see the opening of humanitarian corridors. According to the United Nations, the fighting has displaced least 87,000 people. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Business Recorder
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Syrian govt says fighting in Sweida halted after tribal forces pull out
SWEIDA: Fighting in Syria's Sweida 'halted' on Sunday, the government said, after the southern city was recaptured by Druze fighters and state forces redeployed to the region where more than 900 people have been killed in sectarian violence. Druze fighters had pushed out rival armed factions from the city on Saturday, a monitor said, after the government ordered a ceasefire following a US-brokered deal to avert further Israeli military intervention. Sweida was 'evacuated of all tribal fighters, and clashes within the city's neighbourhoods were halted', Syria's interior ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba said in a post on Telegram. Israel had bombed government forces in both Sweida and Damascus earlier this week to force their withdrawal after they were accused of summary executions and other abuses against Druze civilians during their brief deployment in the southern province. More than 900 people have been killed in Sweida since last Sunday as sectarian clashes between the Druze and Bedouin drew in the Islamist-led government, Israel and armed tribes from other parts of Syria. Earlier Saturday, an AFP correspondent saw dozens of torched homes and vehicles and armed men setting fire to shops after looting them. But in the evening, Bassem Fakhr, spokesman for the Men of Dignity, one of the two largest Druze armed groups, told AFP there was 'no Bedouin presence in the city'. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor also said 'tribal fighters withdrew from Sweida city on Saturday evening' after Druze fighters launched a large-scale attack. Fighting nonetheless persisted in other parts of Sweida province, even as the Druze regained control of their city following days of fierce battle with armed Bedouin supported by tribal gunmen from other parts of Syria. Israel sceptical The deal between the Islamist-government and Israel had been announced by Washington early Saturday. US pointman on Syria Tom Barrack said interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 'have agreed to a ceasefire' negotiated by the United States. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later called on the Syrian government's security forces to prevent jihadists from entering and 'carrying out massacres', in a post on X. He also urged the Syrian government to 'hold accountable and bring to justice anyone guilty of atrocities including those in their own ranks'. Barrack, who is the US ambassador to Ankara, said the deal had the backing of Turkiye, a key supporter of Sharaa, as well as neighbouring Jordan. 'We call upon Druze, Bedouins and Sunnis to put down their weapons and together with other minorities build a new and united Syrian identity in peace and prosperity with its neighbours,' he wrote on X. Barrack later held a meeting in Amman with the Syrian and Jordanian top diplomats, during which they 'agreed on practical steps to support Syria in implementing the agreement', the US envoy said in a later post on X. The US administration, which alongside Turkiye and Saudi Arabia has forged ties with the president despite his past links with Al-Qaeda, was critical of its Israeli ally's recent air strikes on Syria and had sought a way out for Sharaa's government. Sharaa followed up on the US announcement with a televised speech in which he announced an immediate ceasefire in Sweida and renewed his pledge to protect Syria's ethnic and religious minorities. Clashes rage in Druze region as Syria struggles to enforce ceasefire 'The Syrian state is committed to protecting all minorities and communities in the country… We condemn all crimes committed' in Sweida, he said. The president paid tribute to the 'important role played by the United States, which again showed its support for Syria in these difficult circumstances and its concern for the country's stability'. But Israel expressed deep scepticism about Sharaa's renewed pledge to protect minorities, pointing to deadly violence against Alawites as well as Druze since he led the overthrow of longtime leader Bashar al-Assad in December. In Sharaa's Syria 'it is very dangerous to be a member of a minority – Kurd, Druze, Alawite or Christian', Foreign Minister Gideon Saar posted on X. Humanitarian corridors The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said at least 940 people had been killed in the violence since Sunday. They included 326 Druze fighters and 262 Druze civilians, 165 of whom were summarily executed, according to the Observatory. 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. Syria's Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa on Saturday evening said that after the first phase of the ceasefire, which began on Saturday and involved the deployment of security forces to the province, a second phase would see the opening of humanitarian corridors. According to the United Nations, the fighting has displaced least 87,000 people.
Shafaq News
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
US Envoy urges end to Syria hostilities
Shafaq News – Washington/Suwayda US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack on Sunday called on all armed factions in Syria to end hostilities and break the cycle of 'tribal vengeance.' On X, Barrack praised President Donald Trump's decision to lift sanctions on Syria, calling it 'a principled step' toward peace. But he warned that 'this fragile ambition is now overshadowed by profound shock, as brutal acts by warring factions on the ground undermine the government's authority and disrupt any semblance of order.' 'Syria stands at a critical juncture,' he asserted. 'Peace and dialogue must prevail—and prevail now.' President Trump's decision to lift sanctions was a principled step, offering the Syrian people a chance to move beyond years of unimaginable suffering and atrocities. The international community has largely rallied behind the nascent Syrian government, watching with cautious… — Ambassador Tom Barrack (@USAMBTurkiye) July 20, 2025 Despite the declared ceasefire, violence in Suwayda has escalated. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported clashes between Druze fighters and tribal factions, with the death toll rising to 940 over the past week. On Saturday, tribal gunmen raided the village of Ariqa, west of Suwayda, triggering gun battles and drone strikes that left civilians trapped. Further east, in Shahba along the Damascus highway, fierce fighting erupted between Druze forces and units aligned with Syria's Defense Ministry. SOHR confirmed that tribal fighters retreated from central Suwayda after a major counteroffensive by Druze groups, who regained control of several districts following hours of street combat. Despite the counteroffensive, mortar fire continued to pound the city, injuring residents and destroying homes. Local sources warned the situation remains volatile, with casualties continuing to mount.
Rudaw Net
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Secretary Rubio warns Damascus over Suwayda violence as tribal forces withdraw
Also in Syria 'They're erasing our identity': Suwayda native in Erbil pleads for end to violence Clashes continue in Suwayda, death toll passes 900: Watchdog Syrian president confirms truce as state forces enter Suwayda US announces Israel-Syria ceasefire following deadly clashes in Suwayda A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Damascus authorities must immediately reel in 'violent jihadists,' hold them accountable, and prevent their entry to the southern Druze-majority Suwayda province, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday, as Syrian authorities declared a halt to the fighting. 'If authorities in Syria want to preserve any chance of achieving a unified, inclusive, and peaceful Syria … they must end this calamity by using their security forces to prevent ISIS [Islamic State] and any other violent jihadists from entering the area and carrying out massacres,' Rubio said on X. He called on Damascus to bring the perpetrators of atrocities in the area to justice, 'including those in their own ranks.' 'The rape and slaughter of innocent people which has and is still occurring must end,' Rubio asserted, adding that Washington is in touch with Israeli, Jordanian, and Syrian authorities over the developments in Suwayda. Syria's interior ministry said on Sunday that fighting in Suwayda had 'halted' after tribal fighters pulled out of the city. 'The city of Suwayda was evacuated of all tribal fighters and clashes within the city's neighborhoods were halted,' ministry spokesperson Noureddine al-Baba said, adding that Syrian troops were deployed to the province's north and west. The ceasefire, called for by the Syrian government, came after a Washington-brokered deal that sought to prevent further Israeli intervention. On Sunday, US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack described the events in southern Syria as a 'profound shock,' saying 'brutal acts by warring factions on the ground undermine the government's authority and disrupt any semblance of order.' 'All factions must immediately lay down their arms, cease hostilities, and abandon cycles of tribal vengeance. Syria stands at a critical juncture - peace and dialogue must prevail - and prevail now,' he stressed. Barrack further urged the Damascus authorities to capitalize on US President Donald Trump's decision to lift sanctions on the war-torn country. A day prior, Barrack met with Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) chief Mazloum Abdi to discuss the situation in Syria. 'They also discussed practical steps towards integration into a unified Syria for a peaceful, prosperous, inclusive and stable future for all Syrians. They agreed the time for unity is now,' the US Embassy in Syria said on X. Clashes in Suwayda erupted on Saturday between Druze fighters and tribal groups despite an internationally sponsored ceasefire, which pushed the death toll to around 940 people, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor. Israel has come out in support of the Druze and hit several targets, including Syrian state forces and an airstrike on the building of the defence ministry in Damascus. Clashes erupted last week between the Druze and Sunni Bedouin tribes. The Syrian army intervened and took control of most of the province, which had been under Druze rule since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December. A ceasefire was reached with US mediation and after Israel carried out strikes in support of the Druze. On Wednesday, interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced state forces were pulling out of the province.
