Latest news with #SectarianViolence
Al Arabiya
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Syrian government says fighting in Sweida halted after tribal forces pull out
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 scores 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 neighborhoods 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. Scores 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.' 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 government and Israel had been announced by Washington early Saturday. US pointman on Syria Tom Barrack said 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 extremists 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 al-Sharaa, as well as neighboring Jordan. 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. Al-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.' 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.
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Syrian govt says fighting in Sweida halted after tribal forces pull out
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 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 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. burs-kir/lg/jsa/tc/mtp Solve the daily Crossword
The National
20-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Syria claims clashes ended in Sweida as Rubio warns of extremist 'massacres'
Violent clashes have ended in the city of Sweida and tribal fighters removed from the area, Syrian authorities say, as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on government security forces to prevent extremists from "carrying out massacres". Syrian Interior Ministry spokesman Noureddine Al Baba said in a post on Telegram late on Saturday that "clashes within the city's neighbourhoods were halted". "After intensive efforts by the Ministry of Interior to implement the ceasefire agreement, following the deployment of its forces in the northern and western regions of Sweida governorate, the city of Sweida was evacuated of all tribal fighters," he said. Sectarian clashes between Druze and Bedouin groups have been raging for days in Sweida, killing hundreds from both sides. A ceasefire has been announced but has failed to hold. The violence has been marked by widespread reports of killings of civilians and surrendered fighters. It has drawn in government forces, which have also been accused of such behaviour. Sweida has been under siege by pro-government forces since last Sunday, but they have faced stiff resistance from the city's Druze defenders, who have repelled waves of attacks. Israel, which is home to a sizeable Druze community, launched a series of air attacks on Syria it said was aimed at protecting the minority. However, diplomats and analysts have said its goal is to weaken Syria's authorities. Under pressure from Israel and the US, Syrian security forces withdrew from Sweida on Thursday but returned on Friday, reportedly with Israeli consent. Syrian President urges all sides to 'fully commit' to ceasefire Mr Rubio on Saturday called on the Syrian government's security forces to prevent ISIS and other extremists from operating in the region. If Damascus wanted to preserve the chance for a unified, inclusive and peaceful Syria, its security forces must prevent ISIS and any other violent extremists from entering the area and carrying out massacres, Mr Rubio said on social network X. He called on the Syrian government to "hold accountable and bring to justice anyone guilty of atrocities including those in their own ranks". Once in control of large parts of Syria, ISIS was territorially defeated in the country in 2019 largely thanks to the efforts of Kurdish-led forces supported by an international coalition. Sources in Jordan monitoring the situation in Sweida told The National that at least 12,000 pro-government fighters led by Syrian security officials have been advancing on the city from three pockets to the west. The first advance was from the town of Mazraa, where 6,000 militia fighters have assembled under Shaher Amran, a commander in neighbouring Deraa province, as well as Ahmad Dalati, who is in charge of security in Sweida. From the town of Najran, another 800 pro-government fighters were being led by Mouwafaq Al Dokhi, a Bedouin security official. In Al Thaala, an extra 1,500 gunmen have been assembled under the command of an intelligence official known as Khattab, head of a newly created intelligence force called Unit 555. On the back lines, there are 4,000 infantry positioned in Deraa province, mainly in the towns of Busra Al Harir and Izraa, near the main motorway from Deraa city to Damascus. Their weaponry, mainly weapons such as DShK Soviet-era heavy machine-guns, are being provided by the government and transported on vegetable lorries from Damascus to help disguise the process and make it difficult for Israel to attack from the air, the sources in Jordan said. In Deraa province, the launchpad of the government offensive, authorities have given governor Anwar Al Zubi the responsibility of collecting donations to provide food and logistics for the troops, while mosques have also issued calls for donations, the sources added. Sweida is home to most of Syria's registered 800,000 Druze. But many have left, particularly during the country's 13-year civil war, with about 270,000 remaining. Many Druze have opposed attempts by the Syrian government to station security forces from outside the area in the province, saying such personnel should be drawn from the local population. Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara, commander of an Al Qaeda faction before cutting ties with the group in 2016, has said protecting Druze citizens and their rights is 'our priority'. He has vowed to hold to account those who committed violations against 'our Druze people'. Overseas, dozens of Syrians rallied on Saturday in London and Paris, calling for action to protect the Druze. In central London, about 80 protesters called for an end to the deadly violence and a humanitarian corridor to be opened up via the Jordanian border. Protest organiser Emad Al Eismy told the AFP news agency that atrocities were being carried out in Sweida. "Shootings, beheadings, raping, killing children, torching shops, homes. It's a barbarian movement going on," he said.
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Syrian govt says fighting in Sweida halted after tribal forces pull out
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 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 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. burs-kir/lg/jsa/tc/mtp
The Independent
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Syrian troops quell sectarian violence in fragile peace
Deadly clashes erupted in the Druze-majority city of Sweida in southern Syria between Druze and Sunni Bedouin clans, resulting in dozens killed and thousands displaced. The fighting, which began after an armed robbery, marked the first time sectarian violence had occurred within Sweida city itself. Syrian government forces intervened, entering Sweida to impose a curfew and quell the fighting, a significant move as it was their first entry into the city since the fall of Assad. Israel subsequently launched air attacks on Sweida, citing a pledge to protect the Druze minority and reinforcing its demand for a demilitarised zone near its border. A ceasefire was announced, but the violence highlights the transitional government's struggle to maintain control and the ongoing distrust among religious minorities, despite promises of inclusion.
