IRIA News

5 minute read

After nearly a week of fierce fighting in Syria’s Sweida province that killed more than 300 people, a ceasefire agreement has been reached between Israel and Syria.

The ceasefire was announced on July 19, 2025, by the U.S. envoy to Turkey, who said that it is supported by Turkey, Jordan, and regional neighbors. The agreement aims to bring a halt to the escalating conflict that has drawn in regional powers and sparked humanitarian concerns.

Israeli airstrike for Druze protection

The ceasefire comes after days of Israeli airstrikes targeting Syrian government forces and military positions in the south, including strikes in Damascus. Israel launched the strikes in response to accusations that Syrian troops, deployed earlier to suppress the violence, committed widespread violations against the Druze community, allegations that further inflamed tensions in the already volatile region.

Israel defended its actions by citing the need to protect the Druze minority, a group with historic ties to both Syria and Israel.

The conflict drew international calls for de-escalation. U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack said on Friday that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Syrian President Ahmed Al Sharaa have agrred to a ceasefire. “We call upon Druze, Bedouins, and Sunnis to put down their weapons and together with other minorities build a new and united Syrian identity,” Barrack said in a post on X.

As part of the ceasefire agreement, Israel has agreed to allow Syrian internal security forces limited access to the Sweida district for 48 hours. The temporary window is intended to enable Syrian authorities to restore order and prevent further bloodshed. “In light of the ongoing instability in southwest Syria, Israel has agreed to allow limited entry of the (Syrian) internal security forces into the Sweida district for the next 48 hours,” an Israeli official said.

Origins of the clashes in Sweida

Sweida province has been consumed by violent clashes since last week, triggered by confrontations between Bedouin fighters and Druze militias. The violence escalated quickly as Syrian government forces entered the area to quell the unrest. However, their deployment was met with widespread accusations of rights violations, leading to retaliatory strikes from Israel and calls for international intervention.

The Syrian presidency announced on Friday that it would deploy a dedicated force to the south to end the violence, working in coordination with security and political authorities to restore stability. Despite this, reports indicate that violence persists in the region.

Humanitarian crisis deepens

A convoy of Syrian interior ministry units was spotted on a road in Daraa province on Friday, awaiting final orders to enter Sweida. However, large numbers of Bedouin fighters were reportedly still pouring into the region, raising fears of continued clashes despite the ceasefire agreement.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported at least 321 confirmed deaths since the fighting began, including women, children, and medical personnel. The organization cited multiple incidents of field executions committed by various factions. Syria’s emergency services ministry reported treating more than 500 wounded and said hundreds of families had been evacuated from affected areas.

Reports from the ground also indicate that fighting continues in northern and western parts of Sweida. The situation remains fluid, with neither side appearing to fully adhere to the ceasefire as of Friday evening.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) called on Syria’s interim authorities to investigate credible reports of war crimes, including summary executions and kidnappings. The OHCHR cited one incident where 13 people were unlawfully killed during a family gathering, and six others were executed near their homes.

Meanwhile, the United Nations refugee agency urged all parties to allow humanitarian access to affected populations, emphasizing that ongoing violence had severely restricted aid delivery.

Regional diplomacy and diverging views

The broader geopolitical implications of the ceasefire are significant. Israel’s deep distrust of Syria’s new Islamist-led interim government puts it at odds with the United States, which reportedly did not support Israel’s recent military strikes in Syria.

In a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized the urgency of ending the conflict. According to a Turkish foreign ministry source, Fidan acknowledged the U.S. role in brokering the ceasefire and expressed Turkey’s readiness to collaborate on achieving a sustainable peace.

“Fidan said that Israel’s interventions in Syrian territory further exacerbate the problem, and that any attack on Syria’s territorial integrity, unity, and sovereignty also undermines regional peace efforts,” the source added.

Syrian leader Ahmed Al Sharaa, who has sought closer ties with Washington in recent years, accused Israel of trying to fracture Syria but pledged to protect the country’s Druze population. The fragile nature of this ceasefire, however, suggests that much more needs to be done to ensure lasting peace in the region.

While the U.S. appears to have played a constructive role in brokering the ceasefire, the situation remains volatile. With a complex mix of sectarian militias, government forces, and foreign powers involved, any peace deal is likely to face severe tests in the coming days.

As thousands of civilians remain trapped in a humanitarian nightmare and sporadic fighting continues, the true durability of the ceasefire remains uncertain. Yet for now, it represents a rare moment of consensus amid one of Syria’s most sensitive sectarian flashpoints.