
Clashes continue in Suwayda despite declared ceasefire
Local media reported exchanges of fire in multiple areas, with the use of heavy machine guns and suicide drones escalating the confrontation.
Despite the truce, the Syrian Defense Ministry deployed reinforcements to the province's northwestern outskirts and along the Damascus–Suwayda highway, as military activity showed no signs of decreasing.
So far, there have been over 1,100 casualties due to the clashes, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
#المرصد_السوري يطالب بتشكيل لجنة تحقيق أممية مستقلة لكشف الانـ ـتـ ـهـ ـاكـ ـات ومحاسبة الـ ـمـ ـتـ ـورطـ ـيـ ـن في إراقـ ـة دم الشعب السوري
— المرصد السوري لحقوق الإنسان (@syriahr) July 20, 2025

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Rudaw Net
18 minutes ago
- Rudaw Net
US army kills senior ISIS leader in Syria
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The United States army announced on Friday that it carried out a raid in Aleppo province in northern Syria, killing a senior Islamic State (ISIS) leader and two of his sons. The raid took place in al-Bab town. The suspected ISIS leader, Dhiya' Zawba Muslih al-Hardani, and his two ISIS-affiliated sons were killed, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement. 'These ISIS individuals posed a threat to US and Coalition Forces, as well as the new Syrian Government. Three women and three children were also on the target and were unharmed,' it added. General Michael "Erik" Kurilla said the US would 'continue to relentlessly pursue ISIS terrorists wherever they are. ISIS terrorists are not safe where they sleep, where they operate, and where they hide.' Since its defeat in 2019, ISIS has been trying to regain strength, especially after a coalition of opposition groups led by the now-dissolved Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) toppled the regime of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad on December 8. Kurdish authorities in northeast Syria (Rojava), who defeated ISIS in Syria with the help of the US-led global coalition, have repeatedly warned of the growing threat posed by ISIS. In mid-January, commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Mazloum Abdi said there is a 'need to intensify efforts to continue the fight against ISIS if we don't want to see it make a comeback.'


Rudaw Net
2 hours ago
- Rudaw Net
Paris to host next round of SDF-Damascus talks
Also in World Israeli, Syrian officials meet in Paris US must pressure Syria to protect minority rights: USCRIF French, US officials to meet with Syrian FM in Paris: Source Yazidi woman rebuilds life years after ISIS captivity A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot had a 'very frank and productive' meeting with US Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani in Paris on Friday, according to a statement from his office that said France will host the next round of talks between Kurdish-led forces and Damascus. The three discussed Syria's stability and unity, and strengthening Damascus' ability to address security concerns. They agreed to 'support the Syrian government's political transition efforts aimed at national reconciliation and cohesion, especially in northeastern Syria and Suwayda,' the French Foreign Ministry stated. They also agreed 'to host as soon as possible the next round of consultations in Paris between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces [SDF] regarding the full implementation of the March 10 agreement,' the ministry added. There have been reports that SDF commander Mazloum Abdi arrived in Paris on Wednesday for France-mediated talks with Syrian authorities. However, other sources later disputed the reports, citing tensions with Damascus and suggesting the meeting had been postponed. The Kurdish-led administration in northeast Syria (Rojava) is in talks with Damascus about integrating into federal institutions, including the armed forces, per an agreement signed on March 10 between Abdi and Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Syria's interim government is working to form a unified national army by bringing multiple armed groups under state control and centralized command. The SDF, the de facto army of Rojava, seeks to join the army as 'a bloc,' spokesperson Farhad Shami told Syria's Alyaum TV on Wednesday. 'Handing over weapons is a red line. It is not possible to hand over weapons,' he said. The Syrian government has rejected this demand, a senior source from Damascus told state-run al-Ikhbariya TV. Elham Ahmad, a senior official in the Rojava administration, warned that recent violence in the Druze-majority province of Suwayda that left nearly 1,300 people dead has exposed the dangers of Syria's military structure and 'complicates' plans for the SDF's integration. 'We will continue to work toward building prosperity in Syria in collaboration with friends and partners,' Barrack said in a post on X regarding their meeting.


Rudaw Net
3 hours ago
- Rudaw Net
Suwayda violence ‘complicates' SDF integration into Syria army, says official
Also in Syria Female Kurdish force rescues Yazidi woman from 11 years ISIS captivity Suwayda doctors recount harrowing accounts of sectarian violence Damascus rejects SDF demands to retain weapons, form separate military bloc Explosion kills at least 6 in Syria's Idlib A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A senior official in northeast Syria's (Rojava) administration on Friday warned that recent violence in Suwayda has exposed the dangers of the existing military structure in the country and this 'complicates' plans for Kurdish-led forces to integrate into the national army. 'The lack of a transparent military structure' in Syria, especially following violence in Alawite regions on the coast and in the southern Druze-majority province of Suwayda, 'complicates the possibility of integrating the Syrian Democratic Forces into its military structure,' Elham Ahmad, foreign relations co-chair of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES), was quoted as saying by Rojava's ruling Democratic Union Party (PYD). Rojava is in talks with Damascus about integrating into federal institutions, including the armed forces. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is the de facto army of Rojava. Syria's interim government is working to establish a unified army, bringing under state control and centralized command the multiple armed groups that had fought against the former regime. The SDF wants to join the army as 'a bloc,' spokesperson Farhad Shami told Syria's Alyaum TV on Wednesday. 'Handing over weapons is a red line. It is not possible to hand over weapons.' The Syrian government has rejected this demand, a senior source from Damascus told state-run al-Ikhbariya TV on Thursday. The source dismissed attempts to 'use the events in Suwayda or the coast to justify refusing to align under the state's banner,' saying such arguments 'reflect blatant attempts to incite public opinion and distort the facts.' Clashes erupted in Suwayda on July 13 between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribes. Syrian state forces were deployed to the province. The violence drew Israeli intervention in support of the Druze, with strikes targeting Syrian state forces and the defense ministry building in Damascus. At least 1,300 people have been killed, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. A ceasefire - brokered by Washington - was announced on Saturday by US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack and appears to be holding. Ahmad warned that 'hate speech' is fueling 'sectarian conflict.' "What has unfolded in southern Syria in recent days represents a true humanitarian catastrophe, as the struggle for power has transformed into a sectarian conflict. This is a result of the direct hate speech and incitement practiced by some media outlets, which play a dangerous role in fueling hatred and inflaming hostility toward an integral component of the Syrian people," she said. Damascus has come under fire for its response to the clashes. Barrack said the government should be held accountable. The European Union on Thursday condemned the violence and called for a 'transparent, credible and impartial investigation, and for all perpetrators of grave violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law to be held accountable and brought to justice - including with the support of relevant international mechanisms.' There are reports that SDF commander Mazloum Abdi arrived in Paris on Wednesday for France-mediated talks with Syrian authorities. Sources later disputed the reports, citing tensions with Damascus, and suggested the meeting had been postponed. Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa has pledged to form an 'inclusive transitional government that would reflect Syria's diversity,' but he faces criticism from both domestic and international actors who say he has marginalized minority communities. Kurdish leaders have repeatedly expressed concern over the centralization of power and the prominence of Islamic law in the transitional constitution adopted by the interim government. They have denied accusations of desiring to separate and instead call for federalism. 'The unity of Syrian territory is a foregone conclusion, and decentralization is a fundamental requirement for the autonomous administration,' said Ahmad.