DAMASCUS, Syria) — Officials from the Syrian government and leaders of the Druze religious minority announced a renewed ceasefire on Wednesday, following several days of violent clashes that have threatened the country’s fragile postwar transition and prompted military action by neighboring Israel.
Government troops began pulling out of Sweida, though the sustainability of the ceasefire—announced jointly by Syria’s Interior Ministry and in a recorded message by a Druze cleric—remained uncertain. A previous truce declared on Tuesday collapsed swiftly, and a key Druze spiritual leader, Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri, has rejected the latest accord.
Despite the ceasefire declaration, Israeli airstrikes continued unabated.
Unprecedented Israeli Strikes in Central Damascus
The announcement came shortly after Israel launched rare airstrikes deep into Damascus, a significant escalation in its campaign to shield the Druze population and repel Islamist militants from its border. The Druze community, with a large presence in both Syria and Israel, is widely regarded in Israel as a loyal minority, often serving in the armed forces.
The conflict began with retaliatory kidnappings and attacks between Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze armed groups in Sweida province. Syrian government forces, initially deployed to restore order, clashed with Druze militias and, at times, targeted civilians. This flare-up now marks the most serious challenge to Syria’s transitional government since Islamist rebel groups deposed former President Bashar Assad in December, ending nearly 14 years of civil war.
In a televised address early Thursday, Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa emphasized national unity and condemned Israel’s actions, stating:
“Protecting your rights and freedoms remains a top priority. We reject any attempt—foreign or domestic—to divide our nation. We are all equal stakeholders in this land, and Syria’s diversity must be preserved.”
He warned that Israel’s true goal was to fracture Syria’s internal cohesion, but vowed Syrians would resist division, asserting that the country sought stability, not renewed conflict. He added that responsibility for maintaining order in Sweida had been entrusted to local factions and Druze spiritual leaders to avoid escalation.
Rising Tensions with Israel
Tensions have escalated since March, when sectarian clashes between pro-Assad forces and the transitional government led to retaliatory killings. Religious minorities, particularly Alawites, to which Assad belongs, remain deeply distrustful of the new Sunni-majority leadership. Hundreds of Alawite civilians were killed in March’s violence.
No official toll has been released from this week’s fighting. The Syrian Interior Ministry reported 30 deaths on Monday. However, the U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights placed the total above 300 by Wednesday morning—including four children, eight women, and 165 members of the military and security forces.
Israel Escalates with Targeted Strikes
Israeli forces have launched dozens of attacks on Syrian military positions and reinforcements en route to Sweida. On Wednesday, a strike hit Syria’s Defense Ministry headquarters near a crowded square in Damascus, killing three people and injuring 34. Another strike targeted the area surrounding the presidential palace.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared in a post on X:
“The painful blows have begun.”
He emphasized Israel’s intent to continue striking regime forces until they retreat, warning of more severe responses if their message isn’t heeded.
An Israeli military official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that preparations were underway for “a multitude of scenarios.” A brigade stationed in Gaza was redeployed to the Golan Heights.
Syria’s Defense Ministry blamed Druze militias in Sweida for breaking the Tuesday ceasefire.
Druze Civilians in Peril
As violence continued, disturbing accounts emerged from Druze civilians trapped in the conflict zone. In Jaramana, near Damascus, 20-year-old Evelyn Azzam said her husband, Robert Kiwan, was likely shot while attempting to reason with security forces. He had traveled to Sweida for work and became caught in the crossfire.
“They shot my husband in the hip,” Azzam said through tears. “An ambulance took him away. Since then, we’ve heard nothing.”
A Druze woman living in the UAE said her family remained hidden in a basement near a Sweida hospital amid heavy shelling. Speaking anonymously, she described the call she finally received:
“I heard them crying. I’ve never heard them like that before.”
Another woman, also in the UAE, said relatives told her their family home had been torched with occupants still inside. She recalled the 2018 ISIS attack in Sweida when her uncle died fighting back as Assad’s troops stood by.
“It’s the same now,” she said. “These Druze fighters are simply defending their province and families.”
The Druze faith, a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism, has more than 1 million adherents worldwide—over half in Syria. Others live in Lebanon and Israel, including the Golan Heights, annexed by Israel in 1981 after capturing it from Syria in 1967.
Disturbing Reports of Killings and Looting
Social media videos have surfaced showing regime-affiliated fighters humiliating Druze clerics—shaving mustaches, desecrating Druze flags, and stomping on portraits of religious leaders. Other footage shows Druze fighters executing captured soldiers and posing with bodies. AP journalists on the ground observed looted and charred homes.
The Syrian Observatory reported at least 27 victims of field executions.
Druze in the Israeli-occupied Golan held demonstrations along the border fence to protest violence against their community.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed deep concern over the escalating Israel-Syria conflict, attributing it to a “misunderstanding.” He confirmed the U.S. is in communication with both sides to de-escalate the crisis.
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