Syria, Israel agree to ceasefire amid Druze-Bedouin clashes, claims US envoy to Turkey

Tom Barrack, the US ambassador to Turkey, urged all conflicting sides in Syria to lay down arms.

Barrack wrote on X: "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 together with other minorities build a new and united Syrian identity in peace and prosperity with its neighbors."

Israel carried out strikes within the Syrian territory on Wednesday.

According to reports, Israel also targeted the Syrian army headquarters in Damascus.

Israel said it was attempting to protect the Druz community.

Druze, a local community, and pro-government forces have been engaged in conflict ever since the fall of former President  Bashar al-Assad.

In recent weeks, Suweida saw the community getting engaged in a conflict with  Bedouins, triggering tension in the region.

Neither Syria nor Israel have commented on the deal so far.

Amid violent clashes in southern Syria’s Suweida governorate, a picture of grave human rights abuses and rising humanitarian needs is emerging by the hour, the UN said on Friday.

Briefing reporters in Geneva, UN human rights office, OHCHR, spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani highlighted “credible” reports of “widespread violations and abuses, including summary executions and arbitrary killings, kidnappings, destruction of private property and looting of homes” in the city of Suweida.

“Among the reported perpetrators were members of the security forces and individuals affiliated with the interim authorities as well as other armed elements from the area, including the Druze and Bedouin,” she said.

Many hospitals are struggling to cope with the influx of injured, the UN refugee agency UNHCR also noted.

Forced to flee

On Friday morning, OHCHR colleagues reported that clashes were continuing and that “a lot of people are trying to flee or have fled the area”, Shamdasani continued.

The latest updates from the UN humanitarian affairs coordination office, OCHA, on Thursday indicated that nearly 2,000 families had been displaced from areas affected by the fighting.

Hundreds have reportedly been killed since sectarian violence involving the Druze and Bedouin communities erupted on 12 July, triggering an intervention by Syrian security forces.

OHCHR’s Shamdasani highlighted an incident on 15 July in which at least 13 people were killed when “armed individuals affiliated with the interim authorities deliberately opened fire at a family gathering”.

Briefing an emergency meeting of the Security Council in New York on Thursday, UN Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari also referenced reports of “civilians, religious figures and detainees being subjected to extrajudicial executions and humiliating and degrading treatment”. He urged all parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.