Syria Ceasefire Agreed Amidst Regional Tensions and Violence

The Syrian presidency has announced plans to deploy a new force to the south of the country to halt sectarian clashes between Bedouin and Druze fighters. The violence, which erupted on Sunday, has killed nearly 600 people, with reports of government troops killing Druze civilians and carrying out extrajudicial executions. Israel struck targets in Syria to force government troops to withdraw, and on Friday, the US ambassador to Turkey claimed that Israel and Syria had agreed a ceasefire. The Druze community in Suweida province is predominantly minority and distrusts the current government in Damascus. The UN human rights chief has called for an end to the violence and for those responsible to be held accountable. Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has vowed to hold perpetrators accountable and promised to prioritize protecting the Druze.

Druze residents in the Syrian city of Suweida describe a "bloodbath" after five days of sectarian clashes between Druze and Bedouin tribes, which escalated when government forces were deployed. Witnesses told the BBC of witnessing bodies everywhere, burned buildings, and government forces allegedly attacking and looting homes, killing unarmed civilians. At least 594 people have been killed, including 154 Druze civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The violence began after a Druze merchant was abducted on the highway to Damascus, and Israel intervened with air strikes, claiming it was protecting the Druze. Residents are criticizing the government's response, saying it was too little, too late, and that they lack trust in the government's promises to protect them and hold perpetrators accountable.

The leaders of Israel and Syria have agreed to a ceasefire, according to U.S. Envoy Tom Barrack, following recent Israeli airstrikes on the Syrian capital Damascus. The ceasefire is also backed by Turkey and Jordan. The airstrikes were reportedly in response to clashes between the Druze minority and Bedouins in southern Syria, and some analysts see Israel's actions as an attempt to weaken its adversary Syria after the Islamist forces toppled longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December.

Syria and Israel have agreed to a ceasefire, according to US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack, who also serves as the US special envoy to Syria. The deal was supported by neighboring countries including Turkey and Jordan. The ceasefire follows Israel's airstrikes on Syria, which targeted government buildings in Damascus and were aimed at protecting the Druze minority. Clashes between pro-government forces and the Druze had killed many people since the fall of Syria's longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad. The US had been making diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussing the matter with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

The recent Israeli airstrikes in Syria have unraveled a fragile ceasefire agreement and heightened regional tensions, drawing in various powers including Iran, Turkey, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the US. The strikes were launched in response to atrocities against the Druze minority, prompting Israeli Druze citizens to cross the border into Syria to support their relatives. The Syrian government, backed by Turkey, has condemned the Israeli intervention, while Israel is debating its next steps, with some advocating for supporting Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa as an anti-Iranian strongman. Regional analysts see the conflict as a deeper power struggle, with Iran waiting to exploit missteps by others and Turkey seeking to expand its influence in Syria. Some experts suggest a regional diplomatic effort, including a summit with the US, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Israel, to stabilize Syria and counter Iranian influence.

The Syrian city of Sweida has been engulfed in sectarian violence between Arab tribes and the Druze majority, with every shop and home in the area burned or ransacked. Thousands of Arab tribesmen have mobilized to defend their Bedouin brethren, leading to violent clashes and killings. The violence has resulted in over 600 deaths, including a one-and-a-half-year-old baby, with doctors reporting a constant stream of casualties. A ceasefire has been agreed upon by Syrian President Ahmed al Sharaa and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, backed by the US, Turkey, and Jordan, in an effort to end the sectarian killings and restore stability in the country.

Israel and Syria have agreed to a ceasefire, according to the US ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, after several hundred people were killed in clashes in southern Syria involving local fighters, government authorities, and Bedouin tribes. The violence escalated after Israel launched airstrikes, including on the Syrian defence ministry and near the presidential palace, in an effort to protect the Druze community. The US worked to end the conflict, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying steps had been agreed to end the violence, and the UN reported that nearly 80,000 people had been displaced and essential services had collapsed in the region.

Violence in Syria has highlighted the country's ongoing instability seven months after the ousting of longtime authoritarian leader Bashar Assad. The clashes involved government forces, Bedouin tribes, the Druze minority, and neighboring Israel, and have raised concerns about the trustworthiness of the current central government, led by a man once affiliated with al-Qaida, among Syria's diverse ethnic and religious groups.

Pope Leo XIV expressed sadness and called for an immediate ceasefire after Gaza's only Catholic church, the Holy Family Church, was hit in an apparent Israeli strike, leaving at least two dead and several injured. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attributed the strike to "stray ammunition" and expressed regret over the loss of life. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem strongly condemned the incident, stating that the church was a sanctuary for those who had lost their homes and dignity. The Pope, along with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and others, condemned the attack, with the Pope renewing his call for dialogue, reconciliation, and enduring peace in the region.

Israel has expressed "deep regret" over the deaths of three people at Gaza's only Catholic church, the Holy Family Church, after it was hit by a "stray ammunition" during an airstrike, injuring nine others, including the parish priest. The Israeli government stated that it is investigating the incident and is committed to protecting civilians and holy sites. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem strongly condemned the targeting of innocent civilians and a sacred place, while Pope Leo called for an "immediate ceasefire" and expressed his "profound hope for dialogue, reconciliation and enduring peace in the region".