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Fighting in the southern Syrian city of Sweida has “halted,” the government announced on Sunday, following the recapture of the city by Druze fighters and the redeployment of state forces to the region.
This development comes after over 900 people were killed in sectarian violence in the area.
Syria’s interior ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba confirmed on Telegram that Sweida was “evacuated of all tribal fighters, and clashes within the city’s neighbourhoods were halted.”
This followed Druze fighters pushing out rival armed factions on Saturday, a move that came after the government ordered a ceasefire as part of a US-brokered deal aimed at preventing further Israeli military intervention.
External Pressures and Diplomatic Efforts
Earlier this week, Israel had bombed Syrian government forces in both Sweida and Damascus to compel their withdrawal, accusing them of summary executions and other abuses against Druze civilians during a brief deployment in the southern province.
Israel had stated its attacks would intensify until the government pulled back.
The deal between the Islamist-led Syrian government and Israel was announced by Washington on Saturday.
US pointman on Syria, Tom Barrack, confirmed that interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “have agreed to a ceasefire” mediated by the United States.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Syrian government security forces to prevent terrorists from entering and “carrying out massacres” and called for accountability for any atrocities, including those committed by their ranks.
Barrack, who is the US ambassador to Ankara, noted that the deal had the backing of Turkey, a key supporter of Sharaa, and neighbouring Jordan.
He appealed for Druze, Bedouins, and Sunnis, along with other minorities, to “put down their weapons and together… build a new and united Syrian identity.”
The US administration, which has forged ties with Sharaa despite his past links with Al-Qaeda, had been critical of Israel’s recent air strikes and sought a resolution for Sharaa’s government.
Sharaa, in a televised speech, announced an immediate ceasefire in Sweida and reiterated his pledge to protect Syria’s ethnic and religious minorities, condemning all crimes committed in Sweida and thanking the US for its support.
However, Israel expressed deep scepticism regarding Sharaa’s renewed commitment to protecting minorities, citing deadly violence against Alawites and Druze since he led the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in December.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar posted on X that in Sharaa’s Syria, “it is very dangerous to be a member of a minority—Kurd, Druze, Alawite, or Christian.”
Heavy Casualties and Humanitarian Concerns
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, reported that at least 940 people have been killed in the violence since last Sunday. This includes 326 Druze fighters and 262 Druze civilians, with 165 of the civilians summarily executed.
The casualties also include 312 government security personnel and 21 Sunni Bedouin, three of whom were civilians, “summarily executed by Druze fighters.” Additionally, 15 government troops were killed in Israeli strikes.
While fighting within Sweida city has ceased, clashes reportedly persisted in other parts of Sweida province.
Syria’s Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa stated on Saturday that after the initial phase of the ceasefire, which involved the deployment of security forces, a second phase would focus on opening humanitarian corridors.
The United Nations reports that the fighting has displaced at least 87,000 people.
