Syria announces an end to fighting and expels Bedouin fighters from Suwayda city.

The government of Syria has declared that Bedouin fighters have been expelled from Suwayda and that government troops have been sent to supervise their departure from the province as a whole.

After a separate agreement mediated by the United States to prevent more Israeli military assaults on Syria, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued an order on Saturday for a fresh truce between the Bedouin and Druze communities.

There were allegations of mortar firing in neighboring towns and machine gun fire in Suwayda just before the government’s assertion.

Casualty reports were not immediately available.

The fighting ceased “following intensive efforts” to implement the ceasefire agreement and the deployment of government forces in the northern and western areas of Suwayda province, according to a statement released by the official Sana news agency, which was carried by Nour al-Din Baba, a spokesman for the Syrian Ministry of Interior.

Conflicts among the city’s neighborhoods have now been stopped, he claimed, and the western province city of Suwayda has been “cleared of all tribal fighters.”

Domino effect

Tribal fighters from all across the nation poured into Suwayda to assist the Bedouin population there after a Druze truck driver was kidnapped on a public highway last week, sparking a wave of retaliatory attacks.

Additionally, Syrian government troops were drawn to the confrontations.

Israel launched an offensive on Wednesday, launching significant airstrikes on Suwayda and Damascus, the capital of Syria, under the pretext of defending the Druze community after some Druze members accused government forces of mistreating them. On Thursday, Syrian government forces left Suwayda.

The Syrian Ministry of Health reports that 1,700 people have been injured and at least 260 people have died in the conflict. However, other parties estimate that over 900 people were slain.

Additionally, almost 87,000 individuals have been displaced.

The conflict is the most recent obstacle facing the government of al-Sharaa, which came to power in December following the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad.

In a message broadcast on television on Saturday, al-Sharaa urged all sides to put down their weapons and assist the government in bringing about peace.

“We commend the [Bedouin] clans for their valiant efforts, but we urge them to respect the ceasefire and obey the state’s directives,” he said. “Everyone should realize that to overcome these obstacles and protect our nation from outside meddling and internal dissension, we must come together and work together completely.”

He said that the attacks by Israel “pushed the country into a dangerous phase that threatened its stability” and denounced them.

Following the president’s declaration, the Syrian government started sending troops to Suwayda, and Bedouin organizations declared their intention to leave the city.

After consulting with all Suwayda clans and tribes, the Bedouin factions issued a statement saying, “We have decided to adhere to the ceasefire, prioritize reason and restraint, and allow the state’s authorized institutions the space to carry out their responsibilities in restoring security and stability.”

“As a result, we hereby declare that all of our fighters have left the city of Suwayda,” they continued.

According to Mohamed Vall of Al Jazeera, who was reporting from Damascus, the Druze also appeared to have agreed to the truce.

“A well-known spiritual leader, Hikmat Al Hajri, has called for the safe evacuation of all Bedouin fighters from Suwayda,” he stated.

Interior Ministry security forces have been sent in to supervise the ceasefire’s implementation and assist in separating opposing factions. However, he noted that certain Druze leaders have expressed strong resistance to the end of hostilities and that there are still rumors of fighting going on in the city.

Vall continued, “There is hope, but there is also skepticism that this conflict is over.”

The world welcomes the truce.

Meanwhile, Jordan convened discussions on steps to strengthen the truce in Suwayda with Syria and the United States.

The Jordanian government released a readout stating that US special envoy for Syria Thomas Barak, Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shibani, and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi “discussed the situation in Syria and efforts to consolidate the ceasefire reached around Suwayda Governorate to prevent bloodshed and preserve the safety of civilians.”

The release of detainees held by all parties, the deployment of Syrian security forces, and community reconciliation initiatives are among the “practical steps” that the three leaders agreed upon to support the truce.

Additionally, according to the statement, Safadi praised the Syrian government’s “commitment to holding accountable all those responsible for violations against Syrian citizens” in Suwayda.

In a post on X, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also offered his thoughts on the situation in Syria, calling on Syrian government forces to stop fighters from “carrying out massacres” in Suwayda.

“Anyone guilty of atrocities, including those within their own ranks, must be held accountable and brought to justice,” he declared. “In addition, the fighting between Bedouin and Druze groups inside the perimeter needs to end right away.”

International nations also demanded that the truce be maintained.

In a post on X, David Lammy, the foreign secretary for the United Kingdom, expressed his disgust at the carnage in southern Syria and stated that “a sustainable ceasefire is vital.”

In addition to calling for investigations into violations against civilians in Suwayda, France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs emphasized the necessity for “Syrian authorities to ensure the safety and rights of all segments of the Syrian people.”

Japan also demanded that the ceasefire be put into effect as soon as possible and voiced alarm over the bloodshed, particularly the Israeli strikes.

“Strongly urges all parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint, preserve Syria’s territorial integrity and national unity, and respect its independence and sovereignty,” the statement continued.