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Gulf Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- Gulf Today
Calm returns to south Syria after violence
Calm returned to southern Syria's Sweida province on Sunday, a monitor and AFP correspondents reported, after a week of sectarian violence between Druze fighters and rival groups that killed more than 1,000 people. A ceasefire announced on Saturday appeared to be holding after earlier agreements failed to end fighting between longtime rivals the Druze and the Bedouin that spiralled to draw in the government, the Israeli military and armed tribes from other parts of Syria. AFP correspondents on the outskirts of Sweida city reported hearing no clashes on Sunday morning, with government forces deployed in some locations in the province to enforce the truce. The first humanitarian aid convoy entered the city on Sunday, Red Crescent official Omar al-Malki said, adding that it would be followed by others. He said the convoy came 'in coordination with the government bodies and the local authorities in Sweida', which are controlled by the Druze. The Syrian government meanwhile said a Druze group blocked its own convoy from entering the city. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that since around midnight (2100 GMT Saturday), 'Sweida has been experiencing a cautious calm', adding government security forces had blocked roads leading to the province in order to prevent tribal fighters from going there. The Britain-based Observatory gave an updated toll on Sunday of more than 1,000 killed since the violence erupted a week ago, including 336 Druze fighters and 298 civilians from the minority group, as well as 342 government security personnel and 21 Bedouin. Witnesses, Druze factions and the Observatory have accused government forces of siding with the Bedouin and committing abuses including summary executions when they entered Sweida days ago. Hanadi Obeid, a 39-year-old doctor, told AFP that 'the city hasn't seen calm like this in a week'. The interior ministry said overnight that Sweida city was 'evacuated of all tribal fighters, and clashes within the city's neighbourhoods were halted'. The Observatory had said Druze fighters retook control of the city on Saturday evening. Interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa had on Saturday announced a ceasefire in Sweida and renewed a pledge to protect Syria's ethnic and religious minorities in the face of the latest sectarian violence since Islamists overthrew longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December. Agence France-Presse
Al-Ahram Weekly
4 days ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Calm returns to south Syria after violence that killed over 1,100: Monitor - Region
Calm returned to southern Syria's Sweida province on Sunday, a monitor and AFP correspondents reported, after a week of sectarian violence between Druze fighters and rival groups that killed more than 1,100 people. A ceasefire announced on Saturday appeared to be holding after earlier agreements failed to end fighting between longtime rivals the Druze and the Bedouin that spiralled to draw in the Islamist-led government, the Israeli military and armed tribes from other parts of Syria. AFP correspondents on the outskirts of Sweida city reported hearing no clashes on Sunday morning, with government forces deployed in some locations in the province to enforce the truce. The first humanitarian aid convoy entered the city on Sunday, Red Crescent official Omar al-Malki said, adding that it would be followed by others. He said the convoy came "in coordination with the government bodies and the local authorities in Sweida", which are controlled by the Druze. The Syrian government meanwhile said a Druze group blocked its own convoy from entering the city. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that since around midnight (2100 GMT Saturday), "Sweida has been experiencing a cautious calm", adding government security forces had blocked roads leading to the province in order to prevent tribal fighters from going there. The Britain-based Observatory gave an updated toll late Sunday of 1,120 killed since the violence erupted a week ago, including 427 Druze fighters and 298 civilians from the minority group, as well as 354 government security personnel and 21 Sunni Bedouin. Witnesses, Druze factions and the Observatory have accused government forces of siding with the Bedouin and committing abuses including summary executions when they entered Sweida days ago. 'Totally calm' Hanadi Obeid, a 39-year-old doctor, told AFP that "the city hasn't seen calm like this in a week". The interior ministry said overnight that Sweida city was "evacuated of all tribal fighters, and clashes within the city's neighbourhoods were halted". The Observatory had said Druze fighters retook control of the city on Saturday evening. Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa had on Saturday announced a ceasefire in Sweida and renewed a pledge to protect Syria's ethnic and religious minorities in the face of the latest sectarian violence since Islamists overthrew longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December. A spokesman for Syria's tribal and clan council told Al Jazeera late Saturday that fighters had left the city "in response to the call of the presidency and the terms of the agreement". A medic inside Sweida told AFP by telephone on Sunday that "the situation is totally calm... We aren't hearing clashes." Residents of Sweida city, who number at about 150,000, have been holed up in their homes without electricity and water, and food supplies have also been scarce. An AFP photographer said the morgue at Sweida's main hospital was full and bodies were lying on the ground outside the building. The United Nations migration agency said more than 128,000 people in Sweida province have been displaced by the violence. 'Brutal acts' US special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack said Sunday that the country stood at a "critical juncture", adding that "peace and dialogue must prevail -- and prevail now". "All factions must immediately lay down their arms, cease hostilities, and abandon cycles of tribal vengeance," he wrote on X, saying "brutal acts by warring factions on the ground undermine the government's authority and disrupt any semblance of order". Sharaa's announcement on Saturday came hours after the United States said it had negotiated a ceasefire between Syria's government and Israel, which had bombed government forces in both Sweida and Damascus earlier in the week. Following the strikes, the Syrian president hit out at Israel's military intervention, saying it "resorted to a wide-scale targeting of civilian and government facilities," which would have pushed "matters to a large-scale escalation, except for the effective intervention of American, Arab, and Turkish mediation, which saved the region from an unknown fate." Israel, which has its own Druze community, has presented itself as a defender of the minority group. However, some analysts say this could be a pretext for pursuing its own military goal of keeping Syrian government forces as far away as possible from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday urged the Syrian government's security forces to prevent jihadists from entering and "carrying out massacres" in the south, and called on Damascus to "bring to justice anyone guilty of atrocities, including those in their own ranks." *This story was edited by Ahram Online. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Korea Herald
5 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Calm returns to south Syria after violence that killed over 1,100: monitor
Calm returned to southern Syria's Sweida province on Sunday, a monitor and Agence France-Presse correspondents reported, after a week of sectarian violence between Druze fighters and rival groups that killed more than 1,100 people. A ceasefire announced on Saturday appeared to be holding after earlier agreements failed to end fighting between longtime rivals the Druze and the Bedouin that spiralled to draw in the Islamist-led government, the Israeli military and armed tribes from other parts of Syria. AFP correspondents on the outskirts of Sweida city reported hearing no clashes on Sunday morning, with government forces deployed in some locations in the province to enforce the truce. The first humanitarian aid convoy entered the city on Sunday, Red Crescent official Omar al-Malki said, adding that it would be followed by others. He said the convoy came "in coordination with the government bodies and the local authorities in Sweida," which are controlled by the Druze. The Syrian government meanwhile said a Druze group blocked its own convoy from entering the city. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that since around midnight, "Sweida has been experiencing a cautious calm," adding government security forces had blocked roads leading to the province in order to prevent tribal fighters from going there. The Britain-based Observatory gave an updated toll late Sunday of 1,120 killed since the violence erupted a week ago, including 427 Druze fighters and 298 civilians from the minority group, as well as 354 government security personnel and 21 Sunni Bedouin. Witnesses, Druze factions and the Observatory have accused government forces of siding with the Bedouin and committing abuses including summary executions when they entered Sweida days ago. Hanadi Obeid, a 39-year-old doctor, told AFP that "the city hasn't seen calm like this in a week." The Interior Ministry said overnight that Sweida city was "evacuated of all tribal fighters, and clashes within the city's neighbourhoods were halted." The Observatory had said Druze fighters retook control of the city on Saturday evening. Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa had on Saturday announced a ceasefire in Sweida and renewed a pledge to protect Syria's ethnic and religious minorities in the face of the latest sectarian violence since Islamists overthrew longtime ruler Bashar Assad in December. A spokesperson for Syria's tribal and clan council told Al Jazeera late Saturday that fighters had left the city "in response to the call of the presidency and the terms of the agreement." A medic inside Sweida told AFP by telephone on Sunday that "the situation is totally calm. ... We aren't hearing clashes." Residents of Sweida city, who number at about 150,000, have been holed up in their homes without electricity and water, and food supplies have also been scarce. An AFP photographer said the morgue at Sweida's main hospital was full and bodies were lying on the ground outside the building. The UN migration agency said more than 128,000 people in Sweida province have been displaced by the violence. US special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack said Sunday that the country stood at a "critical juncture," adding that "peace and dialogue must prevail -- and prevail now." "All factions must immediately lay down their arms, cease hostilities, and abandon cycles of tribal vengeance," he wrote on X, saying "brutal acts by warring factions on the ground undermine the government's authority and disrupt any semblance of order." Sharaa's announcement Saturday came hours after the US said it had negotiated a ceasefire between Syria's government and Israel, which had bombed government forces in both Sweida and Damascus earlier in the week. Israel, which has its own Druze community, has said it was acting in defence of the group, as well as to enforce its demands for the total demilitarisation of Syria's south. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday urged the Syrian government's security forces to prevent jihadists from entering and "carrying out massacres" in the south, and called on Damascus to "bring to justice anyone guilty of atrocities including those in their own ranks." (AFP)
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Syria conflict: 'Cautious calm' returns to Sweida; Druze-Bedouin fighting killed over 1,100
Southern Syria's Sweida province witnessed a fragile calm on Sunday after a week of intense sectarian violence that claimed over 1,100 lives. The silence came after a ceasefire, announced on Saturday, began to take hold, succeeding where earlier attempts had failed. The fighting, largely between Druze factions and Sunni Bedouin rivals, quickly escalated into a wider conflict involving the Syrian government, Israeli military strikes, and armed tribal groups from across the country. Government forces have since moved in to secure parts of the province, and no fresh clashes erupted on Sunday morning, AFP reported. In a sign of easing tensions, a humanitarian aid convoy managed to enter the city for the first time, according to Red Crescent official Omar al-Malki. He said the operation was coordinated with government agencies and local Druze authorities. However, the Syrian government claimed that a separate convoy it dispatched was blocked by Druze fighters at the city's entrance. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that "Sweida has been experiencing a cautious calm" since midnight, with security forces sealing off roads leading to the province in an effort to keep out additional tribal fighters. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy the Dip: Top 5 Dividend Stocks with Growth Potential Seeking Alpha Read More Undo Late Sunday, the Observatory released an updated death toll, reporting that 1,120 people have been killed since the violence broke out a week ago. The dead include 427 Druze fighters, 298 Druze civilians, 354 government personnel, and 21 Sunni Bedouin. Local witnesses and Druze groups have accused government forces of siding with the Bedouin and carrying out summary executions when they entered the city earlier in the week. Hanadi Obeid, a 39-year-old doctor, told AFP, 'The city hasn't seen calm like this in a week.' A medic still working inside Sweida confirmed the relative peace, saying, 'We aren't hearing clashes.' The Syrian interior ministry announced that all tribal fighters had left Sweida city overnight and that intra-city clashes had come to a halt. The Observatory said Druze groups had regained control of the city by Saturday evening. Saturday's ceasefire was announced by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who also refirmed his commitment to protecting Syria's religious and ethnic minorities. This latest round of bloodshed follows the ousting of former president Bashar al-Assad by Islamist forces last December. A spokesperson for Syria's tribal and clan council told Al Jazeera that fighters had agreed to withdraw from the city in line with the presidency's ceasefire terms. Sweida's population of around 150,000 has been largely confined to their homes over the past week without electricity, clean water, or food. The UN migration agency estimates that more than 128,000 people across the province have been displaced by the violence. US Special Envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, said the country had reached 'a critical juncture' and urged all factions to end the fighting. 'peace and dialogue must prevail -- and prevail now,' he posted on X. "All factions must immediately lay down their arms, cease hostilities, and abandon cycles of tribal vengeance," he said, adding "brutal acts by warring factions on the ground undermine the government's authority and disrupt any semblance of order". The ceasefire came just hours after the US announced it had brokered a deal between the Syrian government and Israel, following Israeli airstrikes on Damascus and Sweida earlier in the week. Israel, which has a Druze population of its own, said the action was aimed at protecting the community and pushing for full demilitarisation of southern Syria.
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First Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
Calm returns to Syria's Sweida after week-long sectarian clashes leave over 1,100 dead
Calm returned to southern Syria's Sweida province on Sunday after a week of sectarian violence between Druze fighters and rival groups that killed more than 1,100 people. read more Bodies of people killed during sectarian violence the previous week lie in a street in the predominantly Druze city of Sweida in southern Syria on July 20, 2025.- AFP Calm prevailed in southern Syria's Sweida province on Sunday following a week of intense sectarian fighting that left more than 1,100 people dead, according to a war monitor and AFP correspondents. A ceasefire announced Saturday appeared to be holding after previous attempts to end hostilities between Druze fighters and rival Bedouin groups collapsed. The violence had escalated to involve Islamist-led government forces, the Israeli military, and tribal militias from across Syria. Humanitarian access resumed with the arrival of the first aid convoy, Red Crescent official Omar al-Malki confirmed, noting that more deliveries were expected. The convoy's entry was coordinated with local Druze-controlled authorities and government agencies, he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, Syria's government reported that a Druze faction blocked one of its own convoys from reaching the city. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the province experienced 'cautious calm' from midnight, and that government forces had sealed off roads to prevent more tribal fighters from entering. The UK-based monitor updated the death toll late Sunday to 1,120, including 427 Druze fighters, 298 Druze civilians, 354 government security personnel, and 21 Sunni Bedouin. Witnesses, Druze groups, and the Observatory have accused government forces of siding with the Bedouin and carrying out abuses, including summary executions, when they entered the city earlier in the week. 'Totally calm' Hanadi Obeid, a 39-year-old doctor, told AFP that 'the city hasn't seen calm like this in a week'. The interior ministry said overnight that Sweida city was 'evacuated of all tribal fighters, and clashes within the city's neighbourhoods were halted'. The Observatory had said Druze fighters retook control of the city on Saturday evening. Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa had on Saturday announced a ceasefire in Sweida and renewed a pledge to protect Syria's ethnic and religious minorities in the face of the latest sectarian violence since Islamists overthrew longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December. A spokesman for Syria's tribal and clan council told Al Jazeera late Saturday that fighters had left the city 'in response to the call of the presidency and the terms of the agreement'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A medic inside Sweida told AFP by telephone on Sunday that 'the situation is totally calm… We aren't hearing clashes.' Residents of Sweida city, who number at about 150,000, have been holed up in their homes without electricity and water, and food supplies have also been scarce. An AFP photographer said the morgue at Sweida's main hospital was full and bodies were lying on the ground outside the building. The United Nations migration agency said more than 128,000 people in Sweida province have been displaced by the violence. 'Brutal acts' US special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack said Sunday that the country stood at a 'critical juncture', adding that 'peace and dialogue must prevail – and prevail now'. 'All factions must immediately lay down their arms, cease hostilities, and abandon cycles of tribal vengeance,' he wrote on X, saying 'brutal acts by warring factions on the ground undermine the government's authority and disrupt any semblance of order'. Sharaa's announcement Saturday came hours after the United States said it had negotiated a ceasefire between Syria's government and Israel, which had bombed government forces in both Sweida and Damascus earlier in the week. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Israel, which has its own Druze community, has said it was acting in defence of the group, as well as to enforce its demands for the total demilitarisation of Syria's south. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday urged the Syrian government's security forces to prevent jihadists from entering and 'carrying out massacres' in the south, and called on Damascus to 'bring to justice anyone guilty of atrocities including those in their own ranks'. With inputs from agencies
