Latest news with #Suwayda
CNN
an hour ago
- Politics
- CNN
Ceasefire in southern Syria appears to be holding as US demands Damascus end violence
The Syrian government says clashes in the southern city of Suwayda have stopped after a week of violence left hundreds of people dead, drawing Israeli intervention and US condemnation. A ceasefire agreement reached by the government, Druze groups and Bedouin tribes on Saturday appeared to be holding Sunday, but communications with the province remain difficult. There were no reports of gunfire in the city of Suwayda Sunday. 'After intensive efforts by the Ministry of Interior to implement the ceasefire agreement and the deployment of its forces in the northern and western regions of Suwayda Governorate, the city of Suwayda was evacuated of all tribal fighters, and clashes within the city's neighborhoods were halted,' Interior Ministry spokesperson Noureddine Al-Baba said, according to the Syrian state news agency. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Saturday called on the Syrian government to use its security forces to prevent 'violent jihadists' from entering Suwayda and 'carrying out massacres.' In a post on X, Rubio said: 'The US has remained heavily involved over the last three days with Israel, Jordan and authorities in Damascus on the horrifying & dangerous developments in southern Syria. The rape and slaughter of innocent people which has and is still occurring must end.' Bedouin tribal fighters were involved in clashes with Druze groups on the western edges of the city on Saturday. One of the Druze factions - Spiritual Leadership – said it was 'deeply regrettable and shameful that the other party has failed to uphold the ceasefire,' and appealed to the international community to halt what it called 'this terrorist onslaught.'
CNN
an hour ago
- Politics
- CNN
Ceasefire in southern Syria appears to be holding as US demands Damascus end violence
The Syrian government says clashes in the southern city of Suwayda have stopped after a week of violence left hundreds of people dead, drawing Israeli intervention and US condemnation. A ceasefire agreement reached by the government, Druze groups and Bedouin tribes on Saturday appeared to be holding Sunday, but communications with the province remain difficult. There were no reports of gunfire in the city of Suwayda Sunday. 'After intensive efforts by the Ministry of Interior to implement the ceasefire agreement and the deployment of its forces in the northern and western regions of Suwayda Governorate, the city of Suwayda was evacuated of all tribal fighters, and clashes within the city's neighborhoods were halted,' Interior Ministry spokesperson Noureddine Al-Baba said, according to the Syrian state news agency. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Saturday called on the Syrian government to use its security forces to prevent 'violent jihadists' from entering Suwayda and 'carrying out massacres.' In a post on X, Rubio said: 'The US has remained heavily involved over the last three days with Israel, Jordan and authorities in Damascus on the horrifying & dangerous developments in southern Syria. The rape and slaughter of innocent people which has and is still occurring must end.' Bedouin tribal fighters were involved in clashes with Druze groups on the western edges of the city on Saturday. One of the Druze factions - Spiritual Leadership – said it was 'deeply regrettable and shameful that the other party has failed to uphold the ceasefire,' and appealed to the international community to halt what it called 'this terrorist onslaught.'
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Syria clears Bedouin fighters from Suwayda city, declares halt to clashes
Syria's government has announced that Bedouin fighters have been cleared from the city of Suwayda and that government forces have been deployed to oversee their exit from the entire governorate. The announcement on Saturday came after Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa ordered a new ceasefire between Bedouin and Druze groups, following a separate United States-brokered deal to avert further Israeli military attacks on Syria. Shortly before the government's claim, there were reports of machinegun fire in the city of Suwayda as well as mortar shelling in nearby villages. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Nour al-Din Baba, a spokesman for the Syrian Ministry of Interior, said in a statement carried by the official Sana news agency that the fighting ended 'following intensive efforts' to implement the ceasefire agreement and the deployment of government forces in the northern and western areas of Suwayda province. He said the city of Suwayda, located in the province's west, has now been 'cleared of all tribal fighters, and clashes within the city's neighbourhoods have been brought to a halt'.Domino effect The fighting broke out last week when the abduction of a Druze truck driver on a public highway set off a series of revenge attacks and resulted in tribal fighters from all over the country streaming into Suwayda in support of the Bedouin community there. The clashes drew in Syrian government troops, too. Israel began attacking on Wednesday, carrying out heavy air attacks on Suwayda and Syria's capital, Damascus, claiming it was to protect the Druze community after some members of the minority group accused government forces of abuses against them. Syrian government troops withdrew from Suwayda on Thursday. At least 260 people have been killed in the fighting, and 1,700 others have been wounded, according to the Syrian Ministry of Health. Other groups, however, put the figure at more than 900 killed. More than 87,000 people have also been displaced. The fighting is the latest challenge to al-Sharaa's government, which took over after toppling President Bashar al-Assad in December. Al-Sharaa, in a televised statement on Saturday, called on all parties to lay down arms and help the government restore peace. 'While we thank the [Bedouin] clans for their heroic stance, we call on them to adhere to the ceasefire and follow the orders of the state,' he said. 'All should understand this moment requires unity and full cooperation, so we can overcome these challenges and preserve our country from foreign interference and internal sedition.' He condemned Israel's attacks, saying it 'pushed the country into a dangerous phase that threatened its stability'.After the president's announcement, the Syrian government began deploying troops to Suwayda and Bedouin groups said they would withdraw from the city of Suwayda. 'Following consultations with all members of Suwayda's clans and tribes, we have decided to adhere to the ceasefire, prioritise reason and restraint, and allow the state's authorised institutions the space to carry out their responsibilities in restoring security and stability,' the Bedouin factions said in a statement. 'Therefore, we declare that all our fighters have been withdrawn from the city of Suwayda,' they added. Al Jazeera's Mohamed Vall, reporting from Damascus, said the Druze, too, seemed to have accepted the truce. 'Hikmat Al Hajri, a prominent spiritual leader, has called for all Bedouin fighters to be escorted safely out of Suwayda,' he said. 'Security forces from the interior ministry have been deployed to help separate rival groups, and oversee the implementation of the ceasefire. But there are still reports of ongoing fighting in the city, with some Druze leaders voicing strong opposition to the cessation of hostilities,' he said. 'So while there is hope, there is also doubt that this conflict is over,' Vall added. World welcomes truce Jordan, meanwhile, hosted talks with Syria and the US on efforts to consolidate the ceasefire in Suwayda. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shibani and the US special envoy for Syria, Thomas Barak, 'discussed the situation in Syria and efforts to consolidate the ceasefire reached around Suwayda Governorate to prevent bloodshed and preserve the safety of civilians', according to a readout by the Jordanian government. The three officials agreed on 'practical steps' to support the ceasefire, including the release of detainees held by all parties, Syrian security force deployments and community reconciliation efforts. Safadi also welcomed the Syrian government's 'commitment to holding accountable all those responsible for violations against Syrian citizens' in the Suwayda area, the statement Secretary of State Marco Rubio also commented on the developments in Syria in a post on X, urging Syrian government troops to prevent fighters from entering Suwayda and 'carrying out massacres'. 'They must hold accountable and bring to justice anyone guilty of atrocities including those in their own ranks,' he said. 'Furthermore the fighting between Druze and Bedouin groups inside the perimeter must also stop immediately.' Countries around the world also called for the truce to be upheld. The United Kingdom's foreign secretary, David Lammy, said in a post on X that he was horrified by the violence in southern Syria and that 'a sustainable ceasefire is vital'. France's Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs stressed the need for 'Syrian authorities to ensure the safety and rights of all segments of the Syrian people', and called for investigations into abuses against civilians in Suwayda. Japan also expressed concern over the violence, including the Israeli strikes, and called for the ceasefire to be implemented swiftly. It added that it 'strongly urges all parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint, preserve Syria's territorial integrity and national unity, and respect its independence and sovereignty'. Solve the daily Crossword
Al Jazeera
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Syria clears fighters from Druze city of Suwayda, declares halt to clashes
Syria's government says it has cleared Bedouin fighters from the predominantly Druze city of Suwayda and declared a halt to the deadly clashes there, hours after deploying security forces to the restive southern region. The announcement on Saturday came after Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa ordered a new ceasefire between Bedouin and Druze groups, following a separate United States-brokered deal to avert further Israeli military intervention in the clashes. Shortly before the government's claim, there were reports of machinegun fire in the city of Suwayda as well as mortar shelling in nearby villages. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Nour al-Din Baba, a spokesman for the Syrian Ministry of Interior, said in a statement carried by the official Sana news agency that the fighting ended 'following intensive efforts' to implement the ceasefire agreement and the deployment of government forces in the northern and western areas of Suwayda province. He said the city of Suwayda, located in the province's west, has now been 'cleared of all tribal fighters, and clashes within the city's neighbourhoods have been brought to a halt'. Israeli intervention The fighting broke out last week when the abduction of a Druze truck driver on a public highway set off a series of revenge attacks and resulted in tribal fighters from all over the country streaming into Suwayda in support of the Bedouin community there. The clashes drew in Syrian government troops, too. Israel intervened in the conflict on Wednesday, carrying out heavy air attacks on Suwayda and Syria's capital, Damascus, claiming it was to protect the Druze community after leaders of the minority group accused government forces of abuses against them. Syrian government troops withdrew from Suwayda on Thursday. At least 260 people have been killed in the fighting, and 1,700 others have been wounded, according to the Syrian Ministry of Health. Other groups, however, put the figure at more than 900 killed. More than 87,000 people have also been displaced. The fighting is the latest challenge to al-Sharaa's government, which took over after toppling President Bashar al-Assad in December. Al-Sharaa, in a televised statement on Saturday, called on all parties to lay down arms and help the government restore peace. 'While we thank the [Bedouin] clans for their heroic stance, we call on them to adhere to the ceasefire and follow the orders of the state,' he said. 'All should understand this moment requires unity and full cooperation, so we can overcome these challenges and preserve our country from foreign interference and internal sedition.' He condemned Israel's intervention in the unrest, saying it 'pushed the country into a dangerous phase that threatened its stability'. After the president's announcement, the Syrian government began deploying troops to Suwayda and Bedouin groups said they would withdraw from the city of Suwayda. 'Following consultations with all members of Suwayda's clans and tribes, we have decided to adhere to the ceasefire, prioritise reason and restraint, and allow the state's authorised institutions the space to carry out their responsibilities in restoring security and stability,' the Bedouin factions said in a statement. 'Therefore, we declare that all our fighters have been withdrawn from the city of Suwayda,' they added. Al Jazeera's Mohamed Vall, reporting from Damascus, said the Druze, too, seemed to have accepted the truce. 'Hikmat Al Hajri, a prominent spiritual leader, has called for all Bedouin fighters to be escorted safely out of Suwayda,' he said. 'Security forces from the interior ministry have been deployed to help separate rival groups, and oversee the implementation of the ceasefire. But there are still reports of ongoing fighting in the city, with some Druze leaders voicing strong opposition to the cessation of hostilities,' he said. 'So while there is hope, there is also doubt that this conflict is over,' Vall added. World welcomes truce Jordan, meanwhile, hosted talks with Syria and the US on efforts to consolidate the ceasefire in Suwayda. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shibani and the US special envoy for Syria, Thomas Barak, 'discussed the situation in Syria and efforts to consolidate the ceasefire reached around Suwayda Governorate to prevent bloodshed and preserve the safety of civilians', according to a readout by the Jordanian government. The three officials agreed on 'practical steps' to support the ceasefire, including the release of detainees held by all parties, Syrian security force deployments and community reconciliation efforts. Safadi also welcomed the Syrian government's 'commitment to holding accountable all those responsible for violations against Syrian citizens' in the Suwayda area, the statement said. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also commented on the developments in Syria in a post on X, urging Syrian government troops to prevent fighters from entering Suwayda and 'carrying out massacres'. 'They must hold accountable and bring to justice anyone guilty of atrocities including those in their own ranks,' he said. 'Furthermore the fighting between Druze and Bedouin groups inside the perimeter must also stop immediately.' Countries around the world also called for the truce to be upheld. The United Kingdom's foreign secretary, David Lammy, said in a post on X that he was horrified by the violence in southern Syria and that 'a sustainable ceasefire is vital'. France's Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs stressed the need for 'Syrian authorities to ensure the safety and rights of all segments of the Syrian people', and called for investigations into abuses against civilians in Suwayda. Japan also expressed concern over the violence, including the Israeli strikes, and called for the ceasefire to be implemented swiftly. It added that it 'strongly urges all parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint, preserve Syria's territorial integrity and national unity, and respect its independence and sovereignty'.
Times of Oman
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Syria moves to restore order in Suwayda with new ceasefire and troop deployment
Suwayda: Syria has started deploying its security forces in the troubled southern province of Suwayda, following intense clashes between Druze and Bedouin armed groups that have left hundreds dead, compounded by Israeli military intervention, Al Jazeera reported. The deployment came shortly after the United States announced an agreement between Israel and Syria to enforce a ceasefire, though the truce remains uncertain amid ongoing fighting, Al Jazeera said. Syria's government confirmed the ceasefire, stating it aims "to spare Syrian blood, preserve the unity of Syrian territory, the safety of its people." President Ahmed al-Sharaa, in a televised address, noted that he had "received international calls to intervene in what is happening in Suwayda and restore security to the country." He described Israeli intervention as having "reignited tensions" and called the fighting "a dangerous turning point," while thanking the US for its support, according to Al Jazeera. Interior Ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba announced on Telegram that "internal security forces have begun deploying in Suwayda province ... with the aim of protecting civilians and putting an end to the chaos," Al Jazeera reported. Despite this, it remains unclear whether Syrian troops have entered Suwayda city or are still on the outskirts, Al Jazeera added. The ethnic clashes between Druze and Bedouin armed groups and government forces have reportedly caused at least 260 deaths, with an estimated 80,000 people displaced, according to Syria's Health Ministry and the International Organisation for Migration, Al Jazeera noted. Al Jazeera's correspondent Mohamed Vall reported that "a lot of extrajudicial killings [are] being reported," and many civilians suffer from a lack of basic services due to the conflict. Al Jazeera also highlighted that some Druze leaders welcome the ceasefire while others pledge to continue fighting. Meanwhile, Bedouin fighters are preparing to travel to Suwayda to support their counterparts, with one fighter telling Al Jazeera their conflict is with forces loyal to Druze leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, whom they accuse of aligning with Israeli interests. An Israeli official told reporters that Israel had agreed to allow "the limited entry of the [Syrian] internal security forces into Suwayda district for the next 48 hours," amid the ongoing instability, Al Jazeera reported. Al Jazeera's analysts say Israel's attacks in the region serve "less to do with the minority Druze community and more with a strategic Israeli objective to create a new reality," describing it as part of Israel's attempt to assert itself as the dominant power in the Middle East through territorial expansion and ongoing conflicts across the region. The conflict and military actions in Suwayda contradict earlier efforts by the Trump administration to expand normalisation deals with Israel in the region, a policy that the Syrian government had initially welcomed before the crisis, Al Jazeera concluded.
