Egypt Daily News – Religious leader Sheikh Youssef Jarbouh, the spiritual head of the Druze community in Syria, announced a full ceasefire agreement in Sweida between all involved parties following days of violent unrest. The announcement, reported by Syrian media, comes after deadly clashes and heightened military activity in the southern province.
“In the wake of the painful events in Sweida, we initiated dialogue with the Syrian state and reached an agreement to fully reintegrate Sweida into the Syrian state,” Sheikh Jarbouh said.
According to Syria’s state news agency SANA, the ceasefire includes the deployment of security checkpoints and a broader plan to reintegrate the province’s security structure under the control of the central government.
Tensions in Sweida have surged in recent days, culminating in intense clashes and airstrikes. The Syrian Ministry of Health reported that one person was killed and 18 others injured during a recent Israeli air raid on Damascus.
Shortly before the ceasefire was confirmed, Israeli forces launched new strikes targeting Syria’s Ministry of Defense and security forces, resulting in multiple casualties. According to Reuters, a powerful explosion was heard across Damascus, and Israel’s Channel 12 cited an Israeli security source claiming the raids targeted the presidential palace and the Syrian army’s general command headquarters.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Druze citizens in Israel not to cross the border into Syria, stating that the Israeli military is managing the situation and would ensure the safety of the Druze population in Syria.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli military announced it had bombed the entrance to Syria’s military command compound in Damascus. A statement published in The Jerusalem Post quoted the Israeli army as saying, “We targeted the entrance of the Syrian regime’s military command complex in Damascus. We will continue monitoring the regime’s actions against Druze civilians in Sweida, southern Syria.”
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Israel would intensify its attacks on Syrian regime forces unless they withdrew from the Druze-majority city of Sweida.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Druze community called for a general strike, as reported by Yedioth Ahronoth, and urged members to be prepared to cross the border in support of relatives affected by the ongoing violence in Syria.
The crisis in Sweida escalated dramatically on Sunday, when Israeli airstrikes hit the southern Syrian province, igniting violent confrontations. The situation has drawn international concern. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urged the Syrian authorities and local leaders in Sweida to de-escalate the situation, protect civilians, restore calm, and conduct transparent investigations to hold those responsible accountable.
