Latest news with #USAMBTurkiye
Shafaq News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Druze leader demands Syrian troop pullout from Suwayda
Shafaq News – Suwayda On Sunday, the prominent Druze spiritual leader Hikmat al-Hijri demanded the full withdrawal of Syrian government forces from Suwayda province following days of deadly clashes. In a statement, al-Hijri called for an immediate halt to military operations and urged authorities to restore internet and telecommunications services and prepare for the release and exchange of detainees under the supervision of the international sponsors of the ceasefire agreement. 'We appeal to our sons across Suwayda to cooperate and act with the utmost sense of responsibility to ensure the success of this process,' the statement read, setting a 6:00 p.m. deadline for the exchange to begin in the village square of Umm al-Zaytoun. In response to widespread claims of deliberate blackouts, the Syrian Ministry of Energy denied reports that it had intentionally disrupted electricity and water services in the province. Ahmad al-Suleiman, the ministry's Director of Government Communications, said the recent outages were caused by factors beyond the ministry's control, citing Israeli strikes on infrastructure and sabotage operations by 'unlawful groups.' Al-Suleiman added that technical teams had already begun repairing damaged power lines. Meanwhile, the US envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, affirmed in a post on X that as of 17:00 Damascus time, all parties have navigated to a pause and cessation of hostilities. Escalating hostilities can only be contained with an agreement to pause violence, protect the innocent, allow humanitarian access, and step back from danger. As of 17:00 Damascus time, all parties have navigated to a pause and cessation of hostilities. The next foundation stone… — Ambassador Tom Barrack (@USAMBTurkiye) July 20, 2025
Metro
3 days ago
- Health
- Metro
Decomposing bodies pile up on streets after more than 1,000 killed in Syria
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video As many as 1,017 people have been killed during clashes, executions and Israeli airstrikes in Syria ahead of a ceasefire today. Mutilated, decomposing bodies are piling on streets in the southern city of Sweida over the last week as hospitals have run out of space to store the dead. Fighting between factions of the Druze minority group and Bedouin tribes began last week, drawing in a military intervention from Syrian forces. On the pretence of defending the Druze fighters, Israel unleashed a series of bombardments on Sweida and the Syrian defence ministry in Damascus on Monday. Amid the secterian violence, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that the death toll has surpassed 1,000 – with almost half of them civilians. An estimated 336 Druze fighters and 298 civilians from the minority group, as well as 342 government security personnel and 21 Sunni Bedouin, have been killed. Hospitals in Sweida have been inundated and are running out of medical supplies to treat the injured and space to store the bodied of the dead. A doctor in Sweida said a local hospital was full of bodies and wounded people from days of violence. 'All the injuries are from bombs, some people with their chests wounded. There are also injuries to limbs from shrapnel,' said Omar Obeid, director of the hospital. Syrian television reported that corpses are piled up on streets due to lack of space in morgue refrigerators at National Hospital. It added: 'The health situation is getting worse in Sweida Governorate. 'Hospitals are witnessing a shortage of medical staff and tragic conditions amid a severe shortage of medicines. Escalating hostilities can only be contained with an agreement to pause violence, protect the innocent, allow humanitarian access, and step back from danger. As of 17:00 Damascus time, all parties have navigated to a pause and cessation of hostilities. The next foundation stone… — Ambassador Tom Barrack (@USAMBTurkiye) July 20, 2025 'Water cut off completely from the National Hospital. Corpses are piling up in the National Hospital garden because the refrigerators cannot accommodate the number of corpses. 'Water cut continues to affect the neighborhoods of Sweida city for the seventh day in a row. 'Operation of bakeries in the city has stopped except for the health bakery, which is not enough to cover the needs of the population.' Residents reported calm in Sweida today after the Islamist-led government announced that Bedouin fighters had withdrawn from the predominantly Druze city and a US envoy signalled that a deal to end days of fighting was being implemented. Syrian interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa announced that an immediate ceasefire will take place today and urged an immediate end to hostilities. The interior ministry said internal forces had begun deploying. But there are fears as to how long the deal will remain in place for, despite support from Turkey, Jordan and the US. More Trending Sharaa said Syria would not be a 'testing ground for partition, secession, or sectarian incitement'. 'The Israeli intervention pushed the country into a dangerous phase that threatened its stability,' he said in a televised speech. The ceasefire involves the deployment of government security forces to Sweida province, and the opening of humanitarian corridors. It also includes 'work to secure all detained Bedouin residents in areas controlled by outlaw groups', the interior ministry said, referring to Druze fighters, as well as the exchange of detainees. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Dozens more Palestinians 'shot dead by Israeli troops while seeking aid' MORE: Priest close to Pope Francis injured in Israeli attack on Gaza's only Catholic church MORE: Ragtag Zohran Mamdani protest likened to Netflix comedy sketch
Ammon
3 days ago
- Politics
- Ammon
U.S. Ambassador praises Jordan's role in Sweida's ceasefire
Ammon News - U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Türkiye and Special Envoy for Syria, Tom Barrac, expressed his gratitude for the partnership of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Ayman Safadi, in implementing the ceasefire in Sweida, Syria In a post on his official X account, Barrac said: "The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan plays a critical leadership role in the region, and we are making positive steps to support a unified, stable Syria at peace with its neighbors, including our Jordanian allies." Grateful for the partnership of FM @AymanHsafadi today as we operationalize the ceasefire in Suwayda. The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan plays a critical leadership role in the region, and we are making positive steps to support a unified, stable Syria at peace with its neighbors,… — Ambassador Tom Barrack (@USAMBTurkiye) July 19, 2025
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Israel, Syria agree to ceasefire as Druze minority and Bedouin clans clash in Syria
The US envoy to Turkey on early Saturday said that Israel and Syria have agreed to a ceasefire after Israel intervened in an armed conflict between Syrian government forces and Bedouin tribes from the Druze minority, with days of bloodshed leading to the killing of 300 people. Israel launched airstrikes in Damascus and hit government forces in southern Syria on Wednesday, while demanding the forces withdraw from the region and set a goal to protect Syrian Druze, an influential minority in Syria that has its members in Lebanon and Israel. The announcement of truce between Israel and Syria by the US Ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, came as renewed clashes continued between Druze groups and Bedouin clans in Syria's southern Sweida province, which has killed more than 300 people and left thousands of people displaced in the region, triggering a humanitarian crisis. BREAKTHROUGH —— Israeli Prime Minister @Netanyahu and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa @SyPresidency supported by the U.S.A. @SecRubio have agreed to a ceasefire embraced by Türkiye, Jordan and its neighbors. We call upon Druze, Bedouins, and Sunnis to put down their weapons and… — Ambassador Tom Barrack (@USAMBTurkiye) July 18, 2025 Announcing the ceasefire, Barrack in a post on X said, 'We call upon Druze, Bedouins, and Sunnis to put down their weapons and together with other minorities build a new and united Syrian identity in peace and prosperity with its neighbors.' Barrack, who also serves as the US special envoy to Syria, informed that the ceasefire deal between Israel and Syria was supported by Turkey, Jordan and other neighboring countries. However, the Israeli embassy in Washington and Syrian consulate in Canada have not issued any statement regarding the truce. Triggering conflict between Bedouin fighters and Druze factions, Syria's Sweida province has been engulfed in violence for over a week. Israeli officials on Friday said Tel Aviv agreed to allow Syrian forces limited access to the Sweida area of southern Syria for the next two days, Reuters reported. The Syrian presidential office on Friday said that forces would be deployed in the south to end the hostilities, in coordination with political and security measures to restore stability and prevent the return of violence.
Shafaq News
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
US hails Syrian Fatwa banning extrajudicial killings as "Step Toward Justice"
Shafaq News / US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack has welcomed a new religious edict from Syria's Supreme Council of Fatwa, which prohibits all forms of extrajudicial killing, praising the move as a step toward justice through lawful means. Great first steps for a new Syrian Government on the move towards a new Syria. — Ambassador Tom Barrack (@USAMBTurkiye) June 6, 2025 'It is forbidden for individuals to impose punishments or carry out retribution without recourse to official or religious courts,' the council stated, emphasizing that such acts undermine social stability and create a climate of violence and disorder. The statement also condemned any form of incitement to violence, saying it fuels division and hatred within the country. 'The council called on Syrian authorities to treat the issue of justice with utmost seriousness and urgency, ensuring the swift restoration of rights and preventing instigators and mercenaries from exploiting the situation to sow discord.'
