Ceasefire negotiated in Sweida, as Syria confirms military operations to halt
A precarious ceasefire has been established in the Druze-majority city of Sweida, Syria, effective as of July 16-17, 2025. The agreement, mediated by the United States, Turkey, and Arab countries, has led to the withdrawal of Syrian government forces from Sweida province, with local Druze factions and clerics now appointed to maintain internal security within the city.
The ceasefire follows a rapid deterioration into intercommunal violence starting around July 13, 2025, resulting in dozens of deaths and many injuries during clashes and a significant government security operation. The city center of Sweida remains firmly under Druze control, though tribal fighters allied with the government are positioned nearby, threatening a fragile peace.
Despite the ceasefire, sporadic violence and tensions continue, with isolated Druze militant attacks on Bedouin communities causing displacement and further tensions on the outskirts of Sweida. The conflict has drawn external attention, with Israel conducting multiple airstrikes targeting Syrian government forces in Sweida province, stating these strikes aimed to protect the Druze minority.
The ceasefire marks a shift towards local Druze factions assuming security responsibilities and a reduction of direct Syrian military operations in the area. A committee will be formed to supervise the implementation of the ceasefire, consisting of representatives from the Syrian government and Druze spiritual leaders.
Notably, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, an influential Druze chief, has rejected the new agreement. In a statement, Hijri said, "There cannot be an accord or negotiations with these armed groups that call themselves a government." Earlier on Wednesday, Hijri appealed to US President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and "all those who have influence in the world" to "save Sweida."
The agreement provides for the release of detainees and inquiries into the fate of the missing. The text of the ceasefire agreement states that no harm will come to civilians or their property. A ceasefire has been reached with the aim of bringing a complete halt to military operations.
Until now, Druze areas have been controlled by fighters from the Druze community. Some Druze fighters have expressed readiness to integrate into the new security forces after the fall of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad. However, the security situation remains uncertain and sensitive, with recent reports of abuses, including summary executions and looting, allegedly by government forces and their allies in Sweida.
The clashes in the south between the Druze and Bedouin tribes began on Sunday and were sparked by a long-running feud. The new agreement represents a fragile pause in a deeply unsettled local context, with the broader conflict in Syria remaining complex and with regional implications.
- The ceasefire agreement in Sweida, Syria, which went into effect on July 16-17, 2025, has shifted the focus of politics in the region towards local Druze factions assuming security responsibilities, whilst general-news outlets are closely monitoring ongoing sporadic violence and tension.
- Despite the formation of a committee to supervise the ceasefire and the release of detainees as part of the agreement, influential Druze chief Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri has rejected the new accord, calling for external intervention from global leaders like US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, adding to the complex general-news landscape surrounding the conflict in Sweida.
