Ceasefire Agreed After Week of Clashes in Sweida Amid U.S. Mediation – Syria and Israel Welcome Truce as Regional Powers Urge Unity for Peaceful Syria

Ceasefire Agreed After Week of Clashes in Sweida Amid U.S. Mediation – Syria and Israel Welcome Truce as Regional Powers Urge Unity for Peaceful Syria

[Damascus, July 19, 2025] —
Following days of airstrikes and ethnic violence in Syria’s southwestern province of Sweida, Syria and Israel have agreed to a ceasefire. The announcement was made by U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack.

In a post early Saturday on X (formerly Twitter), Barrack stated,

“This ceasefire is backed by the United States and welcomed by Turkey, Jordan, and Syria’s other neighboring countries.”

He further added,

“The United States calls on the Druze, Bedouin, and Sunni communities to lay down their arms and unite with other minorities to build a new and cohesive Syrian national identity based on peace and coexistence.”

As of now, neither the Syrian nor the Israeli governments have made any official statement regarding the ceasefire.

On Friday, an unnamed Israeli official told reporters that due to the “ongoing instability in southwestern Syria,” Israel had granted Syrian internal security forces “limited access” to the Sweida district for the next 48 hours.

Earlier on Wednesday, Israel had launched intense airstrikes on Syria’s Ministry of Defense located in central Damascus. Syrian government forces were also targeted in Sweida. Israel claimed the strikes were carried out to protect the minority Druze community living in Sweida.

Hundreds have reportedly died in ethnic clashes between the Druze, Bedouin armed groups, and government forces in the region. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has referred to the Druze as “brothers.” Approximately one million Druze live in Syria, the majority residing in Sweida, while Israel is home to around 150,000 Druze.

On Wednesday, under the mediation of the U.S., Turkey, and Arab countries, a ceasefire agreement was signed between Druze leaders and the Syrian government. However, on the same day, Israeli airstrikes killed at least three and wounded 34 people.

Following the attack, Syrian interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa stated in a televised address Thursday morning,

“Protecting the rights and safety of our Druze citizens is a priority. We do not want war with Israel, but we are not afraid to fight if necessary.”

He added,

“We will defeat any attempt by Israel’s aggression to divide our nation.”

Despite the ceasefire, fresh clashes erupted again on Friday between Druze and Bedouin groups in Sweida. In response, the Syrian government redeployed special forces to the Druze-majority province to restore order.