Latest news with #YousefJarbou
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
IDF Under Fire: Syria's military readiness signals possible retaliation against Israeli forces
Convoys of Syrian security forces and tank transporters carrying tanks were seen moving outside of Sweida on July 16. Scores of people have been killed this week in violence in and around the predominantly Druze city of Sweida. On July 14, Syrian government troops were dispatched to Sweida region to quell fighting between Druze fighters and Bedouin armed men. The troops ended up clashing with the Druze militias. New clashes broke out in the city, according to a Reuters witness, after the Druze leader, Sheikh Yousef Jarbou, said a ceasefire had been reached. Syria's health ministry said dozens of bodies, including fighters and civilians, had been found in a hospital in the city. The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that 169 people had been killed in this week's violence. Earlier, Israel launched powerful airstrikes in Damascus on July 16, blowing up part of the defense ministry and hitting near presidential palace. Netanyahu vowed to destroy government forces attacking Druze in southern Syria. Show more Show less
Al Arabiya
6 days ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Syria army begins withdrawal from Sweida: Defense ministry
Syrian soldiers began withdrawing from Druze-majority Sweida on Wednesday, the defense ministry said, hours after the announcement of a new ceasefire agreement in the violence-hit city. The Syrian army 'has begun withdrawing from the city of Sweida in implementation of the terms of the adopted agreement after the end of the sweep of the city for outlaw groups,' a defense ministry statement said, without mentioning the withdrawal of any other government security forces deployed to the city. Meanwhile, in an interview with Al Arabiya, Syrian Druze religious leader Yousef Jarbou voiced opposition to calls for foreign protection, saying 'we will not lose hope in the Syrian state.'
Reuters
6 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Syria's Druze reach new ceasefire deal with government in Sweida, religious leader says
July 16 (Reuters) - Syria's Druze have reached a ceasefire agreement with the Syrian government in Sweida that will take immediate effect, Druze religious leader Sheikh Yousef Jarbou said in a video broadcast by state media on Wednesday. An earlier ceasefire announced on Tuesday night collapsed after only a few hours. There was still fire from government forces in the predominantly Druze city of Sweida after the announcement was made, according to a Reuters witness.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Syrian-Druze leader announces ceasefire with Damascus
Earlier on Wednesday, Israel intensified its military operations against Damascus, striking the military headquarters and the area surrounding the Presidential Palace. Syria's Druze have reached a ceasefire agreement with the Syrian government in Sweida that will take immediate effect, Druze religious leader Sheikh Yousef Jarbou said in a video broadcast by state media on Wednesday, Reuters reported. An earlier ceasefire announced on Tuesday night collapsed after only a few hours. There was still fire from government forces in the predominantly Druze city of Sweida after the announcement was made, according to a Reuters witness. Syria's state news agency, SANA, corroborated the reports of a ceasefire agreement, adding that security checkpoints were deployed across Sweida. The IDF struck the entrance to the Syrian regime's military headquarters complex in Damascus, the military confirmed earlier on Wednesday. IDF footage showing airstrikes on Damascus, July 16, 2025. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT) Israel struck the complex a second time later on Wednesday afternoon, also striking the area around Damascus's Presidential Palace, local media reported. Several officers were injured and killed in the strikes on the military headquarters, according to local reports, including a sector commander and other officers responsible for part of the Syria-Jordan border region, and an officer in Syria's artillery force. The strikes on Damascus killed one and injured 18, according to a report by Syria's state news agency, SANA. Israel also conducted strikes on Daraa, according to SANA. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hearing on Wednesday was cut short due to the IDF's strike on Syrian regime targets. Israeli drones reportedly targeted Syria's city of Sweida earlier, where clashes between Syrian government troops and local Druze fighters have resumed, SANA reported. Much of Sweida is under the control of Druze forces, and the city also hosts a smaller population of Christian and Muslim minorities. The IDF said it would reinforce its troops along the Syrian border as it continued to monitor the regime's actions against Druze civilians in southern Syria following a situational assessment. Clashes broke out on Sunday between Druze forces and local Bedouin tribes, who are Sunni. Syrian government forces were deployed to the area and clashed with the local armed groups. On Monday, the IDF struck several Syrian regime tanks that were advancing towards Sweida as the government forces gained control of at least one Druze village in the area. Katz stated Israel would defend the Druze community Israel Katz said on Wednesday that Israel would escalate its level of attacks on the Syrian regime if they do not soon withdraw from Sweida. Katz and Netanyahu previously instructed the IDF to prepare to defend the Druze in Syria, as recently as March, after clashes broke out in Jaramana, a city on the outskirts of Damascus, between local Druze forces and the Syrian regime. "We will not allow the terrorist regime of radical Islam in Syria to harm the Druze," Netanyahu and Katz said in a statement. "If the regime harms the Druze, it will be harmed by us. We are committed to our Druze brothers in Israel to do everything to prevent harm to their Druze brothers in Syria, and we will take all necessary steps to maintain their security." This is a developing story. Amichai Stein and Maariv contributed to this report.
Morocco World
6 days ago
- Politics
- Morocco World
Syria's Druze Reach Ceasefire with Government Following Israeli Strikes
Rabat — Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) launched coordinated strikes on Syrian government targets in Damascus on July 16. The attacks targeted the Defence Ministry and areas near the presidential palace, following Israeli warnings to the Syrian government to withdraw from the Southern region of the country. The Damascus strikes targeted Syrian army headquarters as Israel escalated its campaign against Syrian forces in the southern city of Sweida, where fighting has erupted between Druze communities and Syrian security forces. Israel has threatened to increase attacks unless Syrian government forces withdraw from the south, marking a significant expansion of military operations beyond Gaza. Ceasefire reached between Druze and Syrian government Druze religious leader Sheikh Yousef Jarbou said on Wednesday that they have reached a ceasefire agreement with the Syrian government, with it taking immediate effect. Earlier on Tuesday, a previous ceasefire failed after only a few hours, as the Syrian government was still firing in the city of Sweida after the announcement was made. Clashes broke out over the weekend between Druze forces and Bedouin tribes, prompting the Syrian military to enter Sweidaa, a stronghold for the Druze community in the country's south, on Tuesday. A joint group of Islamist forces and Syrian military intervened in the clashes, reportedly raising concerns over minority targeting in Syria. Key Druce community figures called for international protection. Vowing to protect the Druze community in Syria, Israel launched strikes against Syrian government forces. The Syrian foreign ministry issued a statement condemning Israel's attack, describing it as 'a blatant violation of the sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic' and 'a reprehensible example of ongoing aggression and foreign interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states.' Tom Barrack, US envoy, said in a post on X: 'The recent skirmishes in Suwayda are worrisome on all sides, and we are attempting to come to a peaceful, inclusive outcome for Druze, Bedouin tribes, the Syrian government, and Israeli forces.'
