Latest news with #SyrianForces
Reuters
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Israel agrees to allow Syrian troops limited access to Sweida
BEIRUT/JERUSALEM, July 18 (Reuters) - Israel has agreed to allow limited access by Syrian forces into the Sweida area of southern Syria for the next two days, an Israeli official said on Friday after days of bloodshed in and around Syria's Druze city of Sweida "In light of the ongoing instability in southwest Syria, Israel has agreed to allow limited entry of the (Syrian) internal security forces into Sweida district for the next 48 hours," the official, who declined to be named, told reporters. Syria's interior ministry spokesperson said on Friday that government forces were not preparing to redeploy to Sweida Province, the state news agency reported. Syrian troops withdrew from Sweida after a truce was announced on Wednesday, but clashes resumed late on Thursday between fighters from Bedouin tribes and the Druze, who are part of a religious minority in Syria that has followers in Lebanon and Israel. The clashes in parts of Sweida province continued into Friday, according to residents of Sweida and Ryan Marouf, the head of local news outlet Sweida24. Damascus had this week deployed troops to Sweida, which is adjacent to territory controlled by Israel, to try to quell some of the most intense internal fighting in Syria since the interim government took power late last year. The Syrian Network for Human Rights monitoring group said it had documented 254 dead in four days of fighting, among them medical personnel, women and children. Israel became involved in the hostilities on Wednesday. It said it would not allow Syria's Islamist-led government to deploy troops to the south, attacked Syrian troops in Sweida and Syria's defence ministry, and struck close to the presidential palace in Damascus. Describing Syria's new rulers as barely disguised jihadists, Israel has vowed to shield the area's Druze community from attack, encouraged by calls from Israel's own Druze minority. Israel's military carried out new attacks in Sweida province overnight. The head of the U.N. human rights office urged Syria's interim authorities to ensure accountability justice for what it said are credible reports of widespread rights violations during the fighting, including summary executions and kidnappings, the office said in a statement. At least 13 people were unlawfully killed in one recorded incident on July 15 when affiliates of the interim authorities opened fire at a family gathering, the OHCHR said. Six men were summarily executed near their homes the same day. The UN refugee agency on Friday urged all sides to allow humanitarian access, which it said had been curtailed by the violence. Israel's deep distrust of Syria's new Islamist-led leadership appears to be at odds with the United States, which said it did not support the recent Israeli strikes on Syria. The U.S. intervened to help secure the earlier truce between government forces and Druze fighters, and the White House said on Thursday that it appeared to be holding. Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has worked to establish warmer ties with the U.S., accused Israel of trying to fracture Syria and promised to protect its Druze minority.
Al Arabiya
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Israel to allow ‘limited entry' of Syrian forces into Sweida for 48 hours
Israel will allow limited access by Syrian forces into the Sweida area of southern Syria for the next two days because of instability in the area, an Israeli official said on Friday. 'In light of the ongoing instability in south west Syria, Israel has agreed to allow limited entry of the (Syrian) internal security forces into Sweida district for the next 48 hours,' the official, who declined to be named, told reporters.
Al Jazeera
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Ceasefire collapses as fighting escalates in southern Syria
Ceasefire collapses as fighting escalates in southern Syria NewsFeed A ceasefire in Suwayda in Syria has collapsed, as fighting between Druze groups and Syrian forces continues. Israel, which says it wants to protect the Druze, has carried out more air strikes on Syrian troops. Video Duration 03 minutes 11 seconds 03:11 Video Duration 00 minutes 32 seconds 00:32 Video Duration 01 minutes 06 seconds 01:06 Video Duration 01 minutes 36 seconds 01:36 Video Duration 00 minutes 58 seconds 00:58 Video Duration 01 minutes 05 seconds 01:05 Video Duration 00 minutes 44 seconds 00:44
Arab News
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Israel defense minister says military will continue to strike Syrian forces until they withdraw
Israel Defense Minister Israel Katz said that the military will continue to strike Syrian forces until they withdraw, warning that the level of response will escalate if the message is not understood, according to local media reports on Wednesday. Katz also said the Syrian government should 'leave Druze alone' following recent clashes in Syria's Sweida city, Israeli media reported.
Al Mayadeen
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Mayadeen
'Israel' launches strikes on Syrian forces citing Druze protection
In a joint statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Security Minister Israel Katz announced that they have instructed the occupation military to launch strikes against Syrian government forces, citing attacks on members of the Druze community in Syria. The statement claimed that the occupation forces would target "regime forces and weapons that were brought into the Sweida area," alleging violations of what they called a "demilitarization policy" that bars the presence of Syrian military units and weapons in southern Syria. "Israel is committed to preventing harm to the Druze in Syria due to the deep brotherly alliance with our Druze citizens in Israel, and their familial and historical ties to the Druze in Syria," the statement said. The occupation authorities framed their actions as a measure to 'prevent the Syrian regime from harming them' and to 'ensure the demilitarization of the area adjacent to our border with Syria.' Meanwhile, Israeli media reported that the occupation's Air Force has launched a wave of large-scale attacks on southern Syria. The remarks come amid heightened tensions and ongoing conflict in and around the governorate of Sweida, where Syrian government forces have launched operations targeting armed groups following recent violent clashes between Sweida's Druze community and Bedouin tribes. 116 people have been killed, while over 200 were left injured in the fatal clashes, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated on Tuesday. Israeli occupation warplanes launched a series of airstrikes on Monday targeting military factions linked to the new Syrian Ministry of Defense in the southern countryside of Sweida, according to local sources who spoke to Al Mayadeen. The airstrikes specifically targeted convoys and gatherings of these forces along the strategic road connecting the village of al-Mazraa to the city of Sweida, where Syrian government-affiliated factions have reportedly been mobilizing and advancing. In response to the strikes, Israeli Security Minister Israel Katz confirmed that the raids were deliberate and served as 'a clear message and warning' to the government of Ahmad al-Sharaa, Syria's interim president. Katz claimed the attacks were meant to deter what the Israeli regime perceives as emerging threats along its northern frontier. Katz further asserted that the Israeli occupation 'will not stand idly by' in the face of any perceived threat to the Druze community in Syria, stating that the occupation would take 'necessary measures' to prevent harm or influence against Druze populations in the region. Read more: Damascus forces move troops to Sweida, bomb villages
