Israel and Syria have formally announced a ceasefire agreement, confirmed by both governments on Saturday. This development follows a series of Israeli airstrikes on Syrian territory earlier in the week, which were reportedly aimed at safeguarding the Druze minority in the region.
Details of the ceasefire agreement
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu both validated the ceasefire on Saturday, coinciding with an announcement by Tom Barrack, the U.S. special envoy for Syria and ambassador to Turkey, who shared the news on social media.
“In light of the delicate circumstances that the country is going through, in order to save the blood of Syrians, preserve the unity of the Syrian territory and the safety of its people, and in response to national and humanitarian responsibility, the Presidency of the Syrian Arab Republic declares a comprehensive and immediate ceasefire,”
the Syrian presidency stated in a message disseminated via Telegram on Saturday. Netanyahu, commenting on the ceasefire, emphasized its significance:
“This is a ceasefire achieved through strength. Not through pleas, not through begging — through strength.”
Regional support and implications
U.S. envoy Barrack noted that the ceasefire is backed by neighboring countries, including Turkey and Jordan. He urged various communities within Syria—including Druze, Bedouins, and Sunnis—to disarm and work collaboratively towards establishing a new, unified Syrian identity rooted in peace and cooperation with surrounding nations.
The recent conflict in Syria’s southern Sweida region, primarily involving clashes between the Druze minority and other local tribes, has resulted in hundreds of casualties over the past week. Israel’s military intervention involved targeted strikes on Damascus and southern Syria, as the country took measures to protect the Druze, who reside not only in Sweida but also in Israel and Lebanon.
As part of the ceasefire efforts, reports indicate that Israel permitted Syrian forces to deploy in the Sweida region for a period of 48 hours to help stabilize the area and quell ongoing violence.