Violence in Syria leads to 360 reported fatalities, according to activists - Syrian activists claim that 360 people have lost their lives due to violence incidents in the country.
In the heart of southern Syria, the Druze town of Suwayda is currently under a new ceasefire agreement, marking a significant development in the ongoing conflict that has claimed over 300 lives and injured nearly 100 in recent days.
The agreement, which came into effect on July 16, 2025, follows severe clashes between Druze militias and Sunni Bedouin tribes. It includes the withdrawal of Syrian government troops from the city, the establishment of security checkpoints by local police and integrated security forces, and the reintegration of Suwayda under central government authority. A fact-finding committee has also been established to investigate violations in the area.
The agreement was announced with the notable involvement and endorsement of Druze religious leaders and government officials. The Syrian government's Interior Ministry confirmed the deal, and Syrian Armed Forces began their withdrawal from the city that evening. However, the ceasefire has not been officially confirmed by the Syrian government.
Despite the new ceasefire, the situation remains tense due to ongoing Israeli airstrikes targeting government military positions in Suwayda, Damascus, and nearby regions. These strikes, which Israel asserts are to protect the Druze minority, have included hits on the Syrian Defense Ministry headquarters in Damascus, causing casualties and escalating the complexity of the conflict. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 15 members of the Defense and Interior Ministries were killed in these airstrikes.
The US has also shown its interest in ending the violence, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stating that the US had agreed on "concrete steps" to end the violence in Suwayda later that Wednesday evening.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based organization that monitors the conflict in Syria, has reported the death toll from the recent violence in Suwayda to be 360. The death toll cannot be independently verified.
The Syrian government dispatched troops and other security forces to the Suwaida province in response to the violence, while government troops are reportedly withdrawing from the Druze town of Suwayda. A committee composed of government representatives and Druze clerics will oversee the implementation of the ceasefire agreement.
The conflict in Suwayda serves as a reminder of the complexities of the Syrian conflict, with external factors such as Israeli airstrikes adding to the already volatile situation. The fragile peace is challenged by these external forces and the aftermath of fierce local clashes.
- The Commission, in light of the development in the Druze town of Suwayda, has also been consulted on the draft directive on the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to carcinogens, as the situation may pose potential health hazards for the workers involved in the cleanup and reconstruction process following the conflict.
- Amidst the politics and general news of the new ceasefire in Suwayda, war-and-conflicts continue to escalate in other regions as Israel's airstrikes on government military positions persist, complicating the resolution process and the overall peace agreement in Syria.
