CNN
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Syrian security forces are beginning to move to the restful province of Sweida a few days after the joint battle, where hundreds of people were killed, the country’s interior ministry says.
The clashes between the Druze Groups and the Bedouin tribe have continued in Suwayda since last week, threatening the stability of the Damascus government, seeking to control the complex and unstable sectarian landscape of Syria.
The violence has led Israel to carry out a strike against Syrian government forces. This is said to protect the Druze, a significant minority in both countries. Israel has also expressed vigilance about Syria’s new Islamic-led government despite contact between the two to ensure security.
There were reports of sporadic violence that continued on Saturday. Both the Bedouin and Druze groups issued a statement indicating they were ready to accept a ceasefire, but one Druze fact demanded that the Bedouin leave Sweida.
“Following the bloody events caused by outlaw groups, we have begun the deployment of internal security forces as part of our national mission with the main goal of protecting civilians and restoring order,” Interior Ministry spokesman Noor Al Dean Baba said.
After some time, the Syrian presidency declares what is called an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire for the state, asking the nation to allow it to “enforce this ceasefire, ensure stability and stop bloodshed.”
In a TV statement on Saturday, Syrian President Ahmed Arshala said the events in Sweida “marked a dangerous turning point in Syria’s security and political landscape.”
Alshara also mentioned Israeli airstrikes in Sweida and Damascus last week. He said it “has rekindled tensions and pushed the country into a critical phase that threatens its current stability.”
Referring to Israel’s support for several Druze groups in Sweida, Arshala said, “Several figures encouraged by foreign support showed separatist ambitions and leading groups that committed murder and abuse.”
He once again promised to protect Druze, who had been wary of his government, and called for the unity of the people.
“Syria is not a playground for separatism or sectarian instigation. Now, more than ever, it is essential to return to the path of reason and gather in a unified national foundation,” Al Shara said.
After US mediation aimed at ending violence and halting Israeli airstrikes, Alshara thanked the Trump administration for its “commitment to country’s stability.”
Alshara’s statement said Syria and Israel agreed to a new ceasefire in Sweida late on Friday following an announcement by US envoys to Thomas Barrack in Syria.
A video of Earth Reclamation from the city of Sweeda early Saturday showed dark smoke rising pillars and sporadic gunfire sounds. However, Druze and Bedouin groups have shown that they will accept a ceasefire once government forces are deployed.
A Bedouin group, represented by a gathering of southern tribes, said it had declared a “immediate and comprehensive halt of all military actions,” calling it “ensures that channels for dialogue and coordination will not recur.”
One Druze group, deeply involved in the conflict, said it was ready to accept the ceasefire on Saturday. The spiritual leadership faction led by Hikmat Al-Hijri said it is updating its call to “return to our shared humanity.”
However, al-Hijri, who refused the previous ceasefire, later called on the Bedouins to leave the state for altogether, demanding that Syrian security forces be deployed only at the state’s borders.
The Israeli government argued that Sweida should be a non-armed zone with no boundaries for government forces.
But amid ongoing violence, Israel said Friday that a limited presence of internal security forces would allow for order to be restored in Sweida.
On Friday, the Syrian Human Rights Network said it had recorded at least 321 deaths in Sweida since last Sunday when the clashes began. It said there were “extrajudicial killings, mutual artillery fire, similar to airstrikes carried out by Israeli occupation forces.”
