logo
Middle East: Tribal forces withdraw from Sweida – DW – 07/20/2025

Middle East: Tribal forces withdraw from Sweida – DW – 07/20/2025

DW5 days ago
Syrian leaders called for a ceasefire and deployed security forces to quell unrest between Druze and Bedouin factions. Later, Bedouin militias said they had left Sweida after a week of fighting. Follow DW for the latest.After more than a week of clashes between Bedouin and Druze groups in Sweida, the Bedouin clans announced that they were withdrawing from the city.
Druze-majority Sweida province has also been hit by Israeli strikes in recent days, with Israel attacking government forces who had tacitly supported the Bedouins.
Although Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa has been more closely allied with the Bedouins, he urged them to lay down their arms, saying that paramilitaries "cannot replaced the role of the state in handling the country's affairs and restoring security."
"We thank the Bedouins for their heroic stances but demand they fully commit to the ceasefire and comply with the state's orders," he added.
The truce between the two groups was partly brokered by the United States, which dropped several of its sanctions against Syria in June following the ouster of strongman Bashar Assad.
Thank you for reading until now. We'll resume the blog shortly.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called on the interim Syrian government to "prevent ISIS and any other violent jihadists from … carrying out massacres" in the conflict-stricken south of the country.
"The rape and slaughter of innocent people which has and is still occurring must end," he wrote on his personal account on X.
"If authorities in Damascus want to preserve any chance of achieving a unified, inclusive and peaceful Syria free of ISIS and of Iranian control, they must help end this calamity by using their security forces."
Rubio also demanded that the new Islamist-led regime in Damascus hold to account "anyone guilty of atrocities including those in their own ranks" and called for fighting between Druze and Bedouin groups in Sweida to stop.
Syrian government forces returned to the region on Saturday after withdrawing earlier in the week.
After the new German government resumed deportations to Afghanistan this week, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has floated a similar approach for Syria – despite the current unrest in the war-torn country.
"It's possible that, in future, Syrians who have committed criminal offenses [could be] deported," he told the newspaper. "I think that's possible in principle – provided the country develops in [the right] direction."
Southern Syria has been rocked by violence again this week, with the new Islamist-led regime in Damascus struggling to prevent clashes between Druze and Bedouin factions in Sweida and powerless to stop Israeli intervention. Hundreds of people have reportedly been killed.
"We are watching Syria with concern," said Wadephul, calling on the interim government under Ahmed al-Sharaa to ensure that all sections of the population and all religious groups can co-exist.
"No-one should have to fear for life and limb," he said. "But as it stands, we are of the opinion that we have to give this interim government a chance."
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on Saturday visited Taybeh, the Palestinian Christian village in the occupied West Bank whose residents accuse Israeli settlers of torching a church there on July 9.
A staunch Israel supporter, Huckabee struck a rare critical tone, going as far as calling the desecration of a place of worship, in that case the Church of St. George in Taybeh, an "act of terror."
Huckabee, who is an evangelical Christian, stressed that "desecrating a church, mosque or synagogue is a crime against humanity and God."
He said that Taybeh was home to many American citizens.
"I work for ALL American citizens who live in Israel-Jewish, Muslim or Christian," Huckabee said on X. "When they are terrorized or victims of crime I will demand those responsible be held accountable [with] real consequences."
Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa has urged Sunni Muslim Bedouin tribes to "fully commit" to a ceasefire aimed at ending deadly clashes with Druze-aligned militias that have killed hundreds and threatened the country's fragile post-war transition.
His call came Saturday as government forces, initially sent to restore order but seen siding with Bedouin fighters, were redeployed to contain renewed fighting that flared late Thursday. The violence also triggered Israeli airstrikes on Syrian government positions before a truce was reached.
In his second televised address since the unrest began, al-Sharaa accused "armed groups from Sweida" of reigniting the conflict by "launching retaliatory attacks against the Bedouins and their families."
He also warned that Israeli intervention had "pushed the country into a dangerous phase that threatened its stability."
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused Sharaa of siding with the perpetrators.
"In al-Sharaa's Syria, it is very dangerous to be a member of a minority — Kurd, Druze, Alawite, or Christian," Katz posted on X. "This has been proven time and again over the past six months."
The Vatican has voiced skepticism over Israeli claims that a deadly strike on a Catholic church in Gaza was accidental.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state and second only to the pope, made the remarks in a televised interview on Italy's Rai network.
Parolin demanded full clarification from Israel following Thursday's shelling of the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza City, which killed three people and injured nine others — including the local Italian priest. The church had been sheltering around 600 displaced people, according to Palestinian sources.
Parolin said it was reasonable to doubt that the attack was merely a military mistake.
His remarks came after a phone call between Pope Leo XIV and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had earlier expressed "deep regret."
Parolin stressed that the Vatican is not satisfied with Israel's explanation so far.
"We should give them the time necessary to tell us what actually happened: Whether it was really a mistake, which can be rightfully doubted, or whether it was the intention to target a Christian church, knowing how much Christians are an element of moderation in the Middle East," he said.
Roughly 1,000 Christians live in the Gaza Strip, which is home to more than 2 million people. The Church of the Holy Family is Gaza's only Catholic church.
Syria's Islamist-led government has deployed security forces to the southern city of Sweida and called for an end to days of deadly factional fighting.
The presidency announced a nationwide ceasefire on Saturday, urging all sides to halt hostilities. The move comes after nearly a week of violence in Sweida province, where clashes between Druze factions and Bedouin fighters have left hundreds dead, according to local sources.
The Interior Ministry confirmed that internal security forces had begun operations in the area.
In a separate address, interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa said mediation by "Arab and American" actors had helped calm tensions. He also condemned Israel for recent airstrikes targeting Syrian government positions in the south and in Damascus.
Israel has said its strikes aimed to protect the Druze minority, which has a large presence in Israel and in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
Sharaa warned that Syria would not become a "testing ground for partition, secession, or sectarian incitement."
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Israeli troops have opened fire on Palestinians gathering near food distribution sites in southern Gaza, killing at least 32 people, according to witnesses and hospital officials.
The deadly shootings occurred Saturday near facilities run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a controversial aid group backed by the US and Israel.
The DPA news agency reported that at least 37 people were killed. The deaths were reported to have been near two aid hubs.
At one site in the Khan Younis area, about 100 were wounded by gunfire and shelling and brought to Nasser Hospital from the nearby al-Tina district.
Hospital staff warned that the death toll could rise due to the severity of many injuries.
The Israeli military said it was investigating the incident in response to media inquiries.
The GHF began operations in late May after a prolonged Israeli blockade of aid. Supported by both Israel and the US, the foundation has drawn criticism from the United Nations for running too few centers and putting civilians at risk.
According to the UN, hundreds of people have died near aid convoys and distribution hubs in Gaza since the end of May.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Unrest in Syria continued on Saturday following increased tensions based around the region of Sweida in the south where Druze and Bedouin factions have been fighting.
The deployment of Syrian forces during the week resulted in Israel launching strikes on Syria, including in the capital Damascus.
US, Arab and Turkish support brought about a ceasefire between Syria and Damascus.
At the same time, the situation in Gaza remains dire with many desparate for aid, but with Israel only allowing aid centers to be operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an aid group backed by Israel and the United States.
There have been numerous reports of Palestinians being killed as they gather to receive aid since the GHF started operating in the enclave.
Follow along as DW brings you the latest reports, explainers and analysis on developments across the Middle East.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Nuclear negotiations with Iran: What can we expect? – DW – 07/24/2025
Nuclear negotiations with Iran: What can we expect? – DW – 07/24/2025

DW

time4 hours ago

  • DW

Nuclear negotiations with Iran: What can we expect? – DW – 07/24/2025

On Friday, Germany, France and the UK will negotiate with Iran in Istanbul about the future of its nuclear program. The stakes are high for Iran. There is much at stake when representatives from Germany, France and the United Kingdom meet their counterparts from Iran in Istanbul on Friday to negotiate the future of Iran's nuclear program. If the talks fail, Iran risks a new wave of sanctions. Questions remain about the technical status of Iran's nuclear program after the attacks by Israel and the US on Iranian nuclear facilities in June. Or whether Iran can continue its program at all. The limited information available does not appear to support claims by US President Donald Trump that Iran's nuclear facilities and nuclear program have been "totally obliterated," said Hamidreza Azizi, an Iran expert at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP). In his view, Iran would likely be able to resume its enrichment program to a certain extent in the short to medium term. He estimates that the country still has much of the highly enriched uranium it stockpiled over the past few years. "Iran has not been deprived of its ability to enrich uranium," Azizi told DW. "So far, there has been no indication that Iran has actively taken steps to restart its program, but such a move would be more a matter of political decision-making, as well as military and security considerations, rather than technical capability." Michael Brzoska, a political scientist at the Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy at the University of Hamburg, took a slightly different stance. He said it is likely to have become technically much more difficult for Iran to continnue enriching the uranium that is still available to a level suitable to make nuclear weapons. The centrifuges required for enrichment have probably been damaged to such an extent that they can no longer be used, Brzoska said. "Although it cannot be ruled out that there could be hidden centrifuges in other locations, there is currently no information on this." In order to exert pressure on Iran, Germany, France and the UK agreed with the US in mid-July this year to set Iran a deadline for reaching a nuclear agreement. This expires at the end of August. If no agreement is reached by then, the European partners plan to automatically reinstate previous UN sanctions against Tehran. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video It is entirely possible that the Iranian leadership is reconsidering its current strategy, Brzoska believes. Iran has repeatedly denied that it wants to use its nuclear program for military purposes. "But its behavior, especially the high-level enrichment of uranium, has brought it ever closer to this possibility," the expert pointed out. "And it has thus sparked fear among other states."Iran is currently sending out "mixed signals," Azizi told DW, explaining that Iranian officials, including the president and foreign minister, continue to insist that Iran remains open to diplomatic engagement. At the same time, he sees no indication that Iran is willing to soften its positions on other contentious issues, such as domestic uranium enrichment or its support for non-state actors in the region. "The leadership seems to be trying to buy time and avoid a renewed escalation until they determine how to address the various problems at hand," Azizi said. However, Iran's time is limited due to the end-of-August deadline jointly set by Germany, France, the UK and the US. After this date, the UN sanctions, which were lifted in 2016 as part of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), better known as the nuclear agreement, could once again be imposed. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The agreement contains a mechanism known as the "snapback," which entitles each of the states the signed at the time — the US, the UK, France, China, Russia, Germany and the EU — to launch a procedure that would automatically lead to the reintroduction of all UN sanctions against Iran after 30 days. The US withdrew from the agreement in 2018, under Trump's first administration, so it cannot initiate this mechanism. However, talks in mid-July show that the three European states have been coordinating closely with Washington. The US, meanwhile, has imposed its own sanctions against Iran. These target specific sectors of the economy, such as oil exports and banking transactions, and also include sanctions against third countries and companies that do business with Iran. In this respect, the outcome of the upcoming talks is highly important for Iran, said Brzoska. "Sanctions imposed by the US will ultimately be more important from an Iranian perspective. However, the snapback mechanism is likely to prompt a whole series of states to impose economic restrictions on Iran." These restrictions would affect oil exports, for example, as well as the transfer of so-called dual-use technologies, that is, technology that can also be used for military purposes. "Iran is therefore likely to work towards ensuring that the Europeans do not reapply this mechanism," Brzoska said. Beyond the possibility of not activating the snapback agreement, however, the three European states have no other incentives, or carrots, to offer Iran, said Azizi. This could make reaching an agreement more difficult, he believes. "The best we can realistically expect from the upcoming talks is that both sides might agree to extend the deadline for triggering the snapback mechanism, allowing more time for diplomacy and a potential diplomatic resolution."

France Will Recognise State Of Palestine: Macron
France Will Recognise State Of Palestine: Macron

Int'l Business Times

time4 hours ago

  • Int'l Business Times

France Will Recognise State Of Palestine: Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday his country would formally recognise a Palestinian state during a UN meeting in September, the most powerful European nation to announce such a move. At least 142 countries now recognise or plan to recognise Palestinian statehood, according to an AFP tally -- though Israel and the United States strongly oppose the moves. Several countries have announced plans to recognise statehood for the Palestinians since Israel launched a bombardment of Gaza in 2023 in response to the October 7 attacks. Macron's announcement drew immediate anger from Israel, with Deputy Prime Minister Yariv Levin labelling it a "shameless decision" that would be a "direct aid to terrorism". Senior Palestinian Authority official Hussein al-Sheikh welcomed the move, saying it "reflects France's commitment to international law and its support for the Palestinian people's rights to self-determination and the establishment of our independent state". International concern is growing about the plight of the more than two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where the fighting has triggered a dire humanitarian crisis and warnings of mass starvation. Israel has rejected accusations it is responsible for Gaza's deepening hunger crisis, which the World Health Organization has called "man-made" and France blamed on an Israeli "blockade". Macron said the "urgent priority today is to end the war in Gaza and rescue the civilian population". "We must finally build the State of Palestine, ensure its viability and enable it, by accepting its demilitarisation and fully recognising Israel, to contribute to the security of all in the Middle East," he wrote on social media. He said he intended to make the announcement at the UN General Assembly in September. While France would be the most significant European power to recognise a Palestinian state, others have hinted they could do the same. Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced he would hold a call with counterparts in Germany and France on efforts to stop the fighting on Friday, adding that a ceasefire would "put us on a path to the recognition of a Palestinian state". Norway, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia all announced recognition following the outbreak of the Gaza conflict, along with several other non-European countries. Israel's military campaign in Gaza has killed 59,587 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

Why Are Gazans Not Getting Sorely Needed Aid?
Why Are Gazans Not Getting Sorely Needed Aid?

Int'l Business Times

time6 hours ago

  • Int'l Business Times

Why Are Gazans Not Getting Sorely Needed Aid?

Gazans are in desperate need of essentials after more than 21 months of war, but efforts to get aid into the Palestinian territory -- and to its hungry residents -- face major obstacles. UN agencies and aid organisations cite Israeli restrictions, safety issues and the establishment of a US- and Israeli-backed mechanism that has sidelined the humanitarian system in place. Israel says international organisations have failed, and that the previous UN-led system had allowed Hamas militants to loot aid trucks. On the ground, meanwhile, more than 100 aid and human rights groups warned this week that "mass starvation" was spreading. Israel's chosen aid distributor, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), began operations on May 26 after a more than two-month total aid blockade. Now the main channel for distributing food to Gaza's more than two million people, GHF has faced chaos and deadly violence at its few distribution points. The United Nations and aid groups have refused to work with GHF, saying it was created to serve Israeli military interests. "They are not a humanitarian organisation... You don't deliver humanitarian aid in areas that have been completely flattened and militarised," said Arwa Damon, founder of INARA, a US-based NGO offering medical and mental health support to children. She noted the GHF's site locations -- along two military corridors in southern and central Gaza -- rather than being spread out across the territory. With only four GHG sites and huge crowds trying to reach them, there have been repeated reports of deadly fire near them. According to UN figures, Israeli forces have killed some 800 Palestinian aid-seekers near GHF sites since late May. Israel has rejected calls to restore the UN-led system, citing concerns that Hamas looted trucks and resold aid meant to be distributed free of charge. International aid groups say vast quantities of aid are stockpiled outside Gaza but require Israeli military clearance to enter. Inside Gaza, coordination with the military is also essential, as fighting and air strikes rage on. Damon accused Israel of preventing aid delivery by refusing to coordinate with NGOs to grant safe passage through combat zones. "Getting that coordination approved is incredibly challenging," she told AFP. "Not to mention Israel's lack of willingness to provide humanitarian organisations with a safe route to be able to ensure a secure pickup." The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said on Wednesday it had "thousands of trucks in neighbouring countries waiting to enter Gaza -- banned by Israeli authorities from entering since March". Israel screens all goods entering Gaza, but COGAT, the Israeli defence ministry body overseeing civil affairs in the Palestinian territories, denies limiting the number of humanitarian trucks. On Thursday it said "around 70 food trucks were unloaded at aid crossings, and over 150 were collected by the UN and international organisations from the Gazan side". But more than 800 trucks remained uncollected, and Israel's military posted footage online of hundreds of trucks loaded with food aid "sitting idle inside Gaza". UN agencies and international NGOs reject Israeli claims that they lack the capacity to distribute food. They note that aid was distributed effectively in the past, including during the last ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war that ended in March. In Khan Yunis, in Gaza's south, resident Yousef Abu Shehla said this week he had "encountered death" to get his hands on a bag of flour for his family. "We shall feed our children even if we die," he told AFP.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store