Latest news with #Damascus-affiliated
Rudaw Net
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Syrian official forces control Druze city, announce ceasefire
Also in Syria Five Kurdish security forces killed by ISIS in northeast Syria: War monitor Deadly violence in Suwayda draws UN, Kurdish reactions At least 30 dead in Syria's Suwayda clashes Bedouin, Druze clashes kill 21, injure dozens in south Syria: War monitor A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Damascus-affiliated forces on Tuesday entered the Druze city of Suwayda following days of nascent violence between the community and Bedouin groups. The defense minister announced a ceasefire following a deal with the Druze notables. 'To all units operating inside the city of Suwayda; we announce a complete ceasefire after the agreement with the city's dignitaries and notables, with response only to sources of fire and dealing with any targeting by outlaw groups,' Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra said in a statement. This came after security forces affiliated with the interim government entered the southern city of Suwayda to curb the deadly violence between Druze community and Bedouins - which has claimed the lives of around 100 people so far. The minister added that they have deployed forces to the city 'to regulate military behavior and hold violators accountable.' Earlier in the day, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajari, spiritual leader of Syria's Druze minority, said in a statement that the community is facing 'extermination' and that a statement welcoming Damascus-affiliated forces into Suwayda was issued under pressure in order to stop further bloodshed. 'The statement we issued a short while ago with its complete details was imposed upon us from Damascus and pressure from foreign countries for the sake of [sparing the spilling of] our son's blood,' he said in a video message. He added that despite accepting to publish the 'humiliating statement… they broke their pact and promise, and the random shelling of defenseless civilians continued.' Fighting between Druze and Bedouin groups over the past two days in Suwayda province has triggered concern from the United Nations and Kurdish-led authorities in northeast Syria (Rojava). According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), at least 99 people have been killed - 60 of them Druze, including two women and two children, as well as 18 Bedouins. The toll also includes 14 members of Syria's defense ministry and seven unidentified fighters. Hajari called on the global community to intervene. 'We appeal to you, people of nobility, from everywhere and from all countries, old and young, men and women, to confront this barbaric campaign with all available means,' he said. Earlier, the Druze leadership had issued a statement calling on fighters in Suwayda to cooperate with incoming regime forces and stop clashes to protect civilians and state institutions. The statement welcomed the deployment of forces from Syria's interior and defense ministries and urged a ceasefire until a civilian safety agreement is reached. Hajari said the statement followed 'numerous negotiations with Damascus that yielded no results.' On Monday, Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee said Israeli forces had targeted tanks moving toward Suwayda 'to impede their arrival,' warning that their presence could pose a threat to Israel. 'We will not allow a military threat to exist in southern Syria,' he said. Israel has repeatedly emphasized its commitment to the Druze community in Syria and has acted to prevent the buildup of hostile military forces near its border. However, Damascus's entry into the southern province comes as a Syrian diplomatic source told AFP that a Syrian and an Israeli official held a meeting in Baku on Saturday during interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa's visit to Azerbaijan. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a joint statement that they had 'instructed the IDF to immediately strike regime forces and weapons that were brought into the Sweida region in the Druze Mountain area of Syria for regime operations against the Druze.' They also expressed their commitment to 'preventing harm to the Druze in Syria due to the deep bond of brotherhood with our Druze citizens in Israel and their familial and historical ties to the Druze in Syria. We are acting to prevent the Syrian regime from harming them and to ensure the continued demilitarization of the area adjacent to our border with Syria.' This is not the first time the new authorities in Syria attempt to enter the province. In late December, the now-dissolved Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) - which formed into the new government - were denied access to Syria's southern Suwayda province after local Druze militias demanded they turn back. Hajari, who has been an outspoken critic of the current government, previously rejected Syria's new constitutional declaration introduced in March, calling it a 'declaration of tyranny' and warning it threatens the country's ethnic and sectarian makeup. The constitution, signed by Sharaa and introduced by Syria's Islamist-led interim government, prioritizes Islamic jurisprudence as a legislative foundation - drawing opposition from Christian, Alawite, Kurdish, and Druze communities. This also marks the second bout of violence in Suwayda this year. In April and May, sectarian tensions erupted after an offensive audio recording allegedly from a Druze cleric circulated online, sparking clashes that left more than 100 people dead, according to SOHR. Hajari in April also denied making any political agreements with Damascus, calling the current government 'extremist in every sense of the word.'
Rudaw Net
a day ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
At least 30 dead in Syria's Suwayda clashes
Also in Syria Bedouin, Druze clashes kill 21, injure dozens in south Syria: War monitor Rojava administration reiterates call for 'decentralized' Syria, constitutional overhaul Rojava ruling party rejects Damascus 'integration' as bid to 'dismantle' institutions Rojava official says concerned about hate speech, treason accusations after US envoy remarks A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The death toll from the ongoing clashes between Bedouin tribes and members of the Druze community in Syria's southern Suwayda province has risen to at least 30, the defense ministry said on Monday. "We have followed with deep sadness and concern the bloody developments Suwayda province has witnessed over the past two days, which left more than 30 deaths and nearly 100 injuries in a number of neighborhoods and towns," the ministry said , as reported state media. "In coordination with Interior Ministry, we have deployed specialized military units to the affected areas, providing safe passages for civilians', affirming the security forces commitment to protecting civilians in accordance with the law," it added. Among the dead are seven members of Damascus-affiliated forces, according to state media. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) put the death toll at 40. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) condemned the attacks. "We condemn the ongoing attacks and aggressions targeting the villages and towns of al-Sweida, which have led to the tragic loss of many lives and the burning and looting of numerous civilian homes and farms. The repeated attacks on our people in al-Sweida, along with the continued harassment they face in their daily lives and freedom of movement, are deeply concerning."
Rudaw Net
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Death toll in Syria's sectarian clashes rises to 56: War monitor
Also in Syria Israel strikes 'extremist group' preparing to attack Druze in Syria: PM 13 dead in Syria's Sahnaya as sectarian clashes intensify: Monitor 18 killed in clashes between Druze fighters, government forces near Damascus: Monitor Folklore ensemble promotes Kurdish culture, heritage at Damascus Opera House A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The death toll from recent violence between Damascus-affiliated security forces and affiliated armed groups, and members of Syria's Druze community has reached 56, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on Thursday. According to SOHR, the casualties include 16 members of General Security, 10 militants from affiliated armed groups, and 30 members of the Druze community. The war monitor noted that nine Druze individuals were 'executed in the field and some of their bodies were burned,' after falling into an ambush on the road between Damascus and the Druze-majority province of reported that the ambush was carried out by forces affiliated with Syria's defense and interior ministries, along with allied armed groups. The war monitor also documented that 16 General Security personnel and eight Druze local fighters were killed in clashes in Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, south of Damascus, on Wednesday. Earlier, on Tuesday, 10 government-affiliated fighters and seven Druze locals were also killed in the Jaramana district of southern Damascus. The fighting was initially triggered by an audio recording that was allegedly blasphemous toward the Prophet Muhammad. Initially attributed to a prominent Druze cleric, the recording was later discredited by both the cleric and Syrian authorities. Latest developments As a cautious calm currently prevailed in all areas that were scenes of recent clashes, the situation remains highly volatile. Suwayda24, an outlet dedicated to covering news from southern Syria's Druze-majority Suwayda province, reported on Thursday that 'local [Druze] tribes have foiled an attack by armed groups' in Suwayda's western countryside. Earlier in the day, the outlet reported clashes against 'extremist groups' in Suwayda's western countryside that saw the use of 'mortar shells and heavy machine guns.' It added that that a widespread power outage had affected Suwayda, with no official explanation provided for the disruption. A day prior, the state-run Syrian News Agency reported that the governors of Rif Dimashq and Suwayda and Druze 'dignitaries and social figures' had reached a 'preliminary agreement' to establish a ceasefire in both Jaramana and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya. SANA further cited Damascus-affiliated security officials as declaring the 'completion of the security operation in the Ashrafiyat Sahnaya area, and the deployment of General Security forces in the neighborhoods of the area to ensure the return of security and stability.' However, Suwayda24 reported that the meeting concluded 'without a clear agreement, except for some non-binding points,' which included a full ceasefire and the formation of a joint committee to discuss the aftermath of the deadly clashes. The outlet further quoted 'government officials' accusing "outlaw gangs" of attacking state security forces and 'killing 35 members.' They additionally called for the regulation and consolidation of arms under state authority in the Ashrafiyat Sahnaya area. A senior Druze cleric from Syria's southern Suwayda province, Sheikh Yousef al-Jarbou, challenged the government's account, stating that 'the unrest began with a targeted attack on Jaramana and then spread to Ashrafiyat Sahnaya and eventually to Suwayda.' Jarbou emphasized the growing crisis of trust between the government and the Druze community and condemned the repeated attacks on Druze civilians, urging an immediate cessation of such assaults to prevent further escalation and bloodshed. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Syrian Foreign Ministry firmly rejected 'all forms of foreign interference in the country's internal affairs,' calling the 'demands for international protection made by outlaw groups' both 'illegitimate and completely unacceptable.' 'Such actions pose a direct threat to the unity of the country and undermine national efforts aimed at restoring security and stability,' the ministry stated in a post on X. The ministry also reaffirmed Damascus's 'commitment to protect all components of the Syrian people,' highlighting the 'integral role of the Druze community in the national fabric.' It praised 'the role of Druze sheikhs in maintaining civil peace and quelling unrest,' while asserting that 'all national issues must be addressed exclusively through national mechanisms,' and stressing that 'the country's sovereignty is not subject to negotiation.' For his part, Syria's Grand Mufti, Osama al-Rifai, stated that 'every drop of Syrian blood is sacred and must not be squandered,' urging Syrians to 'stand together, reject sectarian strife, and avoid calls for revenge.' 'Beware of strife,' he warned, 'for its beginning is known but its end is not. These conflicts consume everyone, and in the end, all are losers,' Rifai said, emphasizing the importance of preserving the nation's unity and peace. Reactions from Israel, Lebanon and Turkey Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant issued a joint statement on Wednesday, saying that Israel had targeted an 'extremist group' allegedly preparing to attack the Druze community in Sahnaya. They urged Syria's leadership to prevent further harm to the Druze. Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee on Wednesday stated that IDF forces remain on high alert and are prepared to strike Syrian regime targets if violence against Druze continues. Meanwhile, Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, spiritual leader of Israel's Druze community, confirmed on Tuesday that he had contacted international actors and Israeli defense officials, urging protection for Syria's Druze. He called for calm among Druze in Israel and said, 'There is no need for protests. Israel, the army, and the world stand with us.' "Change is coming soon," he added. In a statement on his official Facebook page, Tarif additionally condemned the 'brutal terrorist attack' in Jaramana and honored the Druze youth who 'fell defending their land, honor, and faith.' Tarif contacted Druze figures in Jaramana, 'relevant international actors and influential powers in Syria,' as well as with the Israeli defense minister the commander of the Northern Command of the Israeli army, the statement added. He warned against the 'targeting of the Druze community in Syria,' stating that 'there can be no safety in Syria unless the rights, dignity, and security of the Druze are guaranteed and protected.' He further urged the Syrian people with all its constituents to 'extinguish the flames of discord, uproot sectarianism, and refrain from being dragged behind terrorist groups that pose a grave threat to civil peace.' In Lebanon, prominent Druze leader and head of the Progressive Socialist Party, Walid Jumblatt, on Wednesday accused Israel of attempting to drag Syrian Druze into conflict with Muslims. 'This project aims to pit a small minority against all Muslims,' and 'the Druze will be accused of being soldiers in the [Israeli] occupation army' he warned, calling the Israeli involvement a dangerous provocation. 'Preserving the [Druze] brothers [in Syria] entails rejecting Israeli interference,' Jumblatt said following a meeting with Druze figures in Beirut. Jumblatt's Progressive Socialist Party stated that he had been in contact with Syria, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Jordan to mediate a ceasefire. The Progressive Socialist Party had earlier on Tuesday warned conflicting sides in Syria against 'falling into the trap of sectarian division' and emphasized "the importance of preserving Syria's unity and its social and popular fabric." It stressed the need to preserve Syria's unity and social cohesion, and urged Damascus to conduct 'a transparent investigation into the incident.' Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan strongly condemned Israel's strikes in Syria, labeling them 'provocative and unacceptable.'
Rudaw Net
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Israel strikes ‘extremist group' preparing to attack Druze in Syria: PM
Also in Syria 13 dead in Syria's Sahnaya as sectarian clashes intensify: Monitor 18 killed in clashes between Druze fighters, government forces near Damascus: Monitor Folklore ensemble promotes Kurdish culture, heritage at Damascus Opera House Syria's fragile stability in focus after violence in Druze-majority Damascus suburb A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - An Israeli aircraft struck a target in the Druze-majority town of Sahnaya in southern Syria, reported Rudaw's correspondent on the ground. Hours prior, Israel stated it had targeted an 'extremist group' that was planning an attack on the local Druze population. Rudaw's Dilkhwaz Mohammed, reporting from Sahnaya, confirmed that 'an Israeli aircraft struck a target inside Sahnaya,' adding that 'the aircraft continued hovering and surveilling' the area after the strike. The escalation comes as at least 13 people have reportedly been killed and many others injured in armed clashes that erupted in Sahnaya between Druze fighters and Damascus-affiliated forces in Sahnaya, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). The UK-based war monitor elaborated that 11 of the fatalities were Damascus security forces, while the remaining two were local Druze fighters. In a joint statement on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Israel had hit an 'extremist group' preparing to launch an attack on the Druze in Sahnaya, adding that 'Israel expects' the new Syrian leadership 'to act in order to prevent harm to the Druze [community]." Arabic spokesperson for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), Avichay Adraee, on Wednesday noted that the IDF's chief of staff had 'instructed preparations to [potentially] strike targets belonging to the Syrian regime if the violence against the Druze does not cease.' In a statement on X, Adraee elaborated that 'the IDF continues to monitor developments in Syria, while our forces remain on defensive alert and prepared to respond to various scenarios.' For his part, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani on Wednesday denounced the Israeli airstrikes on his country, warning that they pose a serious threat to national stability. 'These attacks are not only blatant violations of Security Council Resolutions,' but 'they also destroy our civilian infrastructure and risk returning Syria to the militants we've fought 14 years to overcome,' Shaibani said. Meanwhile, Rudaw's correspondent in Sahnaya, Mohammed, reported a wave of displacement among Druze residents in Sahnaya due to the ongoing violence. A Damascus-affiliated officer told Mohammed that 'the Syrian Arab Army was conducting a sweep on the entry of Sahnaya to root out terrorist gangs stationed inside.' The same officer claimed that the Damascus-affiliated forces were 'battling remnants' of the regime of ousted Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and 'outlaw gangs' in Sahnaya. The unrest in Sahnaya comes just one day after violent confrontations broke out in the Druze-majority suburb of Jaramana, near Damascus, leaving at least 18 people dead and dozens injured. The violence was reportedly triggered by an offensive audio clip about the Prophet Muhammad, initially attributed to a Druze cleric but later found to be fake. This is not the first time Druze-majority areas have faced turmoil. Jaramana has seen repeated tensions since the December fall of Assad's regime to a coalition of opposition groups led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). In early March, forces affiliated with the new Syrian leadership deployed in the suburb following clashes with Druze fighters. Around that same time, Assad loyalists had launched attacks on security forces aligned with the new leadership in Syria's Alawite-majority western regions. SOHR then reported that about 1,500 people - mostly Alawites - were killed in the clashes, with most deaths caused by Damascus-affiliated forces. The violence then drew international condemnation, while Israel reaffirmed readiness to defend Syria's Druze community if they are subjected to similar violence. Israel is notably home to about 150,000 Druze who mainly reside in the Galilee, Carmel Mountains, and Golan Heights, and are integrated into state institutions, including the military.
Rudaw Net
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Militias withdrawing from Afrin as Damascus gains control: Official
Also in Syria Second batch of Kurdish forces withdraws from Aleppo Syrian Kurds struggle to repair key dam damaged by militants ISIS ramps up attacks in SDF-held regions: War monitor UN envoy, Sharaa discuss political transition, SDF deal, violence in Alawite regions A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Damascus-affiliated security forces are edging closer to fully controlling the Kurdish city of Afrin in northwest Syria as militia groups and settlers leave, a Kurdish official in the city said on Wednesday. "Four months have passed since the government forces entered, and thousands of armed faction fighters have already left Afrin,' Azad Osman, an Afrin local council member, told Rudaw. 'Only a small number [of militants] remain and will likely depart soon,' Osman noted. Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch in March 2018, capturing Afrin from the People's Protection Units (YPG) - the backbone of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) - and placing it under the control of Turkish-backed armed groups. Since then, these groups have operated with significant impunity. With regards to settlers who have confiscated the properties of the Kurdish residents in the region, Osman expected that they would leave Afrin and return back to their areas by the end of the educational year. 'Now we need to form a committee to facilitate the return of remaining displaced persons,' he stressed. Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa visited Afrin in mid-February and met with locals, the majority of whom were Kurds. He pledged to remove armed groups and put an end to the violations, a representative from the Kurdish National Council (ENKS/KNC) who attended the meeting told Rudaw at the time. Kurds have been increasingly returning to Afrin since the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime. These Kurds had been displaced to other parts of Syria after Turkey-backed militia groups invaded the Kurdish-majority city. With the militants losing their grip on Afrin to Damascus-affiliated forces, many have been able to return. No official Syrian government decision has been made to support the return of Afrin's residents. Some families come back on their own, while others return through aid from the ENKS, a coalition of Kurdish political parties that is considered the main opposition in northeast Syria (Rojava). The umbrella group, which used to be part of the Turkey-backed anti-Assad opposition, has had an office in Afrin for years. SDF chief Mazloum Abdi signed a landmark deal with Sharaa in March to integrate the SDF into the state apparatus. Along with recognizing Kurds as an integral part of Syria and establishing a nationwide ceasefire, the agreement also included the facilitation of the return of displaced people to their homes.
