Syria’s authorities says it has cleared Bedouin fighters from the predominantly Druze metropolis of Suwayda and declared a halt to the lethal clashes there, hours after deploying safety forces to the restive southern area.
The announcement on Saturday got here after Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa ordered a brand new ceasefire between Bedouin and Druze teams, following a separate United States-brokered deal to avert additional Israeli army intervention within the clashes.
Shortly earlier than the federal government’s declare, there have been stories of machinegun hearth within the metropolis of Suwayda in addition to mortar shelling in close by villages.
There have been no instant stories of casualties.
Nour al-Din Baba, a spokesman for the Syrian Ministry of Inside, stated in a press release carried by the official Sana information company that the combating ended “following intensive efforts” to implement the ceasefire settlement and the deployment of presidency forces within the northern and western areas of Suwayda province.
He stated the town of Suwayda, situated within the province’s west, has now been “cleared of all tribal fighters, and clashes throughout the metropolis’s neighbourhoods have been delivered to a halt”.
Israeli intervention
The combating broke out final week when the kidnapping of a Druze truck driver on a public freeway set off a sequence of revenge assaults and resulted in tribal fighters from everywhere in the nation streaming into Suwayda in assist of the Bedouin group there.
The clashes drew in Syrian authorities troops, too.
Israel additionally intervened within the battle on Wednesday, finishing up heavy air attacks on Suwayda and Syria’s capital, Damascus, claiming it was to guard the Druze group after leaders of the minority group accused authorities forces of abuses towards them.
Syrian authorities troops withdrew from Suwayda on Thursday.
At the least 260 individuals have been killed within the combating, and 1,700 others have been wounded, in accordance with the Syrian Ministry of Well being. Different teams, nonetheless, put the determine at greater than 900 victims.
Greater than 87,000 individuals have additionally been displaced.
The combating is the most recent problem to al-Sharaa’s authorities, which took over after toppling President Bashar al-Assad in December.
Al-Sharaa, in a televised assertion on Saturday, referred to as on all events to put down arms and assist the federal government restore peace.
“Whereas we thank the [Bedouin] clans for his or her heroic stance, we name on them to stick to the ceasefire and observe the orders of the state,” he stated. “All ought to perceive this second requires unity and full cooperation, so we are able to overcome these challenges and protect our nation from overseas interference and inner sedition.”
He condemned Israel’s intervention within the unrest, saying it “pushed the nation right into a harmful section that threatened its stability”.
After the president’s announcement, the Syrian authorities started deploying troops to Suwayda and Bedouin teams stated they might withdraw from the town of Suwayda.
“Following consultations with all members of Suwayda’s clans and tribes, we have now determined to stick to the ceasefire, prioritise motive and restraint, and permit the state’s authorised establishments the house to hold out their tasks in restoring safety and stability,” the Bedouin factions stated in a press release.
“Due to this fact, we declare that each one our fighters have been withdrawn from the town of Suwayda,” they added.
Al Jazeera’s Mohamed Vall, reporting from Damascus stated the Druze, too, appeared to have accepted the truce regardless of some opposition throughout the group.
“Hikmat Al Hajri, a outstanding non secular chief, has referred to as for all Bedouin fighters to be escorted safely out of Suwayda. Safety forces from the inside ministry have been deployed to assist separate rival teams, and oversee the implementation of the ceasefire. However there are nonetheless stories of ongoing combating within the metropolis, with some Druze leaders voicing robust opposition to the cessation of hostilities,” he stated.
Vall added that whereas “there’s hope” of an finish to the hostilities, “there’s additionally doubt that this battle is over”.
World welcomes truce
Jordan, in the meantime, has hosted talks with Syria and the US on efforts to consolidate the ceasefire in Suwayda.
Jordanian Overseas Minister Ayman Safadi, his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shibani and the US particular envoy for Syria, Thomas Barak, “mentioned the state of affairs in Syria and efforts to consolidate the ceasefire reached round Suwayda Governorate to forestall bloodshed and protect the security of civilians”, in accordance with a readout by the Jordanian authorities.
The three officers agreed on “sensible steps” to assist the ceasefire, together with the discharge of detainees held by all events, Syrian safety pressure deployments and group reconciliation efforts.
Safadi additionally welcomed the Syrian authorities’s “dedication to holding accountable all these accountable for violations towards Syrian residents” within the Suwayda space, the assertion stated.
Nations around the globe have additionally referred to as for the truce to be upheld.
The UK’s overseas secretary, David Lammy, stated in a submit on X that he was horrified by the violence in southern Syria and that “a sustainable ceasefire is important”.
France’s Ministry for Europe and Overseas Affairs careworn the necessity for “Syrian authorities to make sure the security and rights of all segments of the Syrian individuals”, and referred to as for investigations into abuses towards civilians in Suwayda.
Japan additionally expressed concern over the violence, together with the Israeli strikes, and referred to as for the ceasefire to be applied swiftly.
It added that it “strongly urges all events involved to train most restraint, protect Syria’s territorial integrity and nationwide unity, and respect its independence and sovereignty”.
