Syrian authorities have announced a new ceasefire agreement for the southern province of Sweida following days of fighting but it remains highly uncertain whether peace will prevail after a local leader of the Druze minority rejected the deal.
It comes after the collapse of a short-lived truce just a day earlier to bring an end to violent sectarian clashes that are said to have claimed more than 300 lives and prompted Israel to attack targets across Syria, including in Damascus.
“An agreement was reached for a ceasefire in Sweida and for the establishment of security checkpoints across the city,” authorities said in a statement carried by state news agency SANA, citing a source from the Interior Ministry.
The terms of the agreement were announced by Sheikh Yusuf al-Jarbou, one of the spiritual leaders of the Druze community, in a statement broadcast by state media.
According to al-Jarbou, Sweida will be fully reintegrated into the Syrian state.
He said the agreement calls for the reactivation of state institutions and services as well as a commitment to uphold the rights of citizens based on justice and equality.
However, another Druze religious leader who is reportedly close to Israel denied that a deal had been struck, calling on Druze fighters to continue to resist.
In a statement signed by Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, he demanded the unconditional liberation of all of Sweida from government and rival forces and urged the remaining fighters from these groups to surrender peacefully.
Clashes between Sunni Bedouins and Druze civilians in southern Syria have escalated sharply in recent days, centred on the Druze-majority city of Sweida, with Syrian government troops deployed to the area.
The troops, along with allied groups, have been accused of attacks on civilians including executions.
The fighting, which erupted over the weekend, has also resulted in widespread destruction and displacement.
Syrian government troops dispatched to the Sweida region ended up clashing with the Druze militias.
Sweida residents said they were holed up indoors.
“We are surrounded and we hear the fighters screaming … we’re so scared,” said a resident of Sweida who was reached by phone.
The crack of gunfire interspersed by booms could be heard in the background.
“We’re trying to keep the children quiet so that no one can hear us,” the man added, asking not to be identified for fear of reprisals.
While calm temporarily returned after an initial ceasefire was declared on Tuesday, the truce was quickly violated, prompting renewed military operations as well as Israeli air strikes on southern Syria and the capital Damascus.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli military launched an attack near the Syrian presidential palace in Damascus as Israel vowed to protect Druze civilians.
An Israeli military representative said there was a “military target” in the vicinity of the palace, which is the official seat of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, but did not provide any details.
Israeli jets delivered three air strikes on the Syrian capital, according to a DPA reporter at the scene, with other targets including the entrances to Syria’s Ministry of Defence and the General Staff headquarters.
Thick black smoke billowed over the area as ambulances rushed to the site.
Residents nearby said that the blasts shook their homes and shattered windows.
The debris included chunks of concrete and metal from the General Staff building, striking vehicles in Umayyad Square.
On Wednesday evening, the Syrian Health Ministry said that the number of casualties from the Israeli air strikes on Damascus had risen to three dead and 34 wounded.
A Syrian medical source said the strikes on the Defence Ministry killed five members of the security forces.
The Israeli military said its fighter jets had carried out attacks on the “regime’s military headquarters” in response to the unrest in southern Syria.
Israel said it was monitoring the Syrian government’s actions and aimed to support the Druze community, describing them as allies.
Many Druze inside Israel serve voluntarily in the Israeli army.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the situation as “complicated” but said it looked like a “misunderstanding”.
He said he thought progress towards de-escalation would be made within hours.
with Reuters
https://thewest.com.au/news/conflict/syria-announces-sweida-truce-but-not-all-druze-on-board-c-19380481
