Suwayda cleared of tribal fighters as Syrian forces implement ceasefire
'Following intensive efforts by the Ministry of Interior to implement the ceasefire agreement — after the deployment of its forces in the northern and western areas of Suwayda province — the city of Suwayda has been cleared of all tribal fighters, and clashes within the city's neighborhoods have been brought to a halt,' said ministry spokesperson Nour al-Din al-Baba, according to the state-run SANA news agency.
The announcement came after the Syrian presidency declared a comprehensive and immediate ceasefire in the southern province, where armed clashes erupted on July 13 between Bedouin Arab tribes and local Druze militias.
Violence in the region escalated rapidly, with Israeli airstrikes targeting Syrian military positions and infrastructure in Damascus. Israel cited the protection of Druze communities as justification for the strikes.
Most Druze leaders in Syria, however, have publicly rejected foreign interference, emphasizing their commitment to national unity and the sovereignty of the Syrian state.
The situation in Suwayda unfolded amid broader changes in the country's political landscape. Following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad's regime in December and his flight to Russia, the long-standing Baath Party rule — in power since 1963 — effectively ended.
In January, a new transitional administration led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa was formed. Since then, Israel has declared the 1974 Disengagement Agreement void and intensified its military operations inside Syria. — Agencies
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Arab News
4 hours ago
- Arab News
The stark reality of how Israel treats its own Druze citizens
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Nowhere are these tensions more apparent than in Israel, where the Druze have forged a uniquely complex relationship with the Jewish majority, one marked by military partnership and shared sacrifice, yet also by persistent inequality and simmering frustration. As a result of their opposition to conversion and discouragement of intermarriage, the Druze community remained small in number and vulnerable, constantly maneuvering politically for their own survival among more powerful forces. Still, when push comes to shove, they can prove to be fearless warriors. The special relationship between the Jewish and Druze communities already existed in Mandatory Palestine. This relationship grew closer and stronger after Israel declared its independence, although it remains rather complex. One of the tenets of Druze philosophy — some might call it a survival mechanism — is loyalty to the state where they reside. In this sense, Israel is no exception. In 1956, at the request of the Druze community's leaders, Druze men became subject to the military draft upon turning 18, just like their Jewish compatriots. This created a covenant written in blood between the Jewish and Druze communities, with more than 430 having lost their lives serving in the Israeli security forces — a substantial number for a small community of 143,000, which is less than 1.6 percent of Israel's population. But despite this sacrifice and the generally positive perception of the Druze among Jewish Israelis — unlike attitudes toward other Arab communities — they are not spared discrimination. Consequently, there are forces among their youth who oppose continued military service. The recent wave of deadly sectarian clashes that rocked southern Syria exposed the country's fragility, as the new government proved either incapable or unwilling to impose law and order, leading to a failure to protect the Druze. The response by the Druze in Israel highlighted another strong tenet in the community's philosophy: mutual responsibility. In a Pew Research Center survey, nine in 10 said that they had a strong sense of belonging to the Druze community and were proud to be part of it. Roughly two-thirds expressed that they feel a special responsibility to care for Druze in need around the world. Over the last week, this manifested in community leaders exerting pressure on the Israeli government to intervene on behalf of the Druze in their clashes with Bedouin militias. Translating intentions into action, around 1,000 community members — including two members of the Knesset, Afef Abed and Hamad Amar from the right-wing parties Likud and Yisrael Beytenu, respectively — crossed the border from the Israeli-occupied side of the Golan Heights to support their brethren on the other side, expressing outrage over what they described as the massacre of their relatives in Suwaida. 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Another factor raises suspicion over Israel's purported commitment to the Druze in Syria. Despite the total loyalty of the Druze to the state of Israel, it does not appear that the Jewish state is equally loyal to them. For all their years of sacrifice and devotion, the Druze still do not enjoy the same equal rights as the Jewish population. Although attitudes toward the Druze in Israel may be more favorable than toward Palestinian citizens, they are still far from being treated as equals. Some researchers of the Druze community in Israel suggest that they represent something of an in-between group, comprising 'individuals who simultaneously belong to social categories that are often seen as mutually exclusive, while maintaining their distinct group identity.' The Druze are ethnically Arab and share that Arab identity with the Arab-Palestinian minority in Israel, but, at the same time, identify with the Jewish Israeli state. In recent years, there has been an awakening among young Druze that, despite their sacrifices, they are institutionally and socially discriminated against as individuals and as a community. In a protest last year, community leaders stated: 'The covenants of blood and life have become superficial and false slogans.' They demanded that budgets allocated to their towns and villages be equal to those of their Jewish neighbors. This discrimination is visible not only in the underinvestment in their communities, but also in the confiscation of their land for the Judaization of the Galilee and in house demolitions — not to mention having to contend with poor electricity networks, sewage systems, and roads. Many residents in the 16 Druze towns and villages of Israel find it almost impossible to obtain planning permission, leaving them under constant threat of demolition orders or hefty fines. 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Saudi Gazette
6 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Arabia to unveil SR21 billion investment deals at Damascus forum
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7 hours ago
- Leaders
High-level Saudi Delegation Eyes Investment Opportunities in Syria
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