DAMASCUS (Realist English). The United States announced on Friday that Israel and Syria have agreed to a ceasefire, following several days of heavy fighting in the Druze-majority province of Sweida that has left over 300 people dead and displaced tens of thousands.
The announcement came from U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack, who also serves as special envoy for Syria. In a post on X, Barrack said the agreement was reached between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Syrian Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, with support from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The ceasefire, he said, has been “embraced” by Turkey, Jordan, and other unnamed regional partners.
“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 wrote, without elaborating on the terms of the agreement.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office or the Syrian Presidency. However, on Friday night, Syrian authorities said a contingent of internal security forces would be deployed to the south in coordination with political and security measures to restore order and prevent renewed violence.
Despite the announcement, fresh clashes erupted Friday in and around Sweida between armed Druze militias and Bedouin clans, further straining local infrastructure and humanitarian conditions. Reuters reporters on the ground said thousands of Bedouin fighters continued to move into the area, sparking fears among residents that fighting could escalate again despite the declared ceasefire.
Earlier in the week, Israel had conducted airstrikes in Damascus and against Syrian government forces in the south, claiming the operations were aimed at protecting the Druze minority. The Israeli military accused Syrian units of carrying out abuses in Sweida. Following the strikes, Syrian troops reportedly withdrew from the area under a temporary truce brokered by the U.S.
On Friday, an Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Tel Aviv would allow Syrian security forces limited access to Sweida over the next 48 hours. “In light of the ongoing instability in southwest Syria, Israel has agreed to allow limited entry of the (Syrian) internal security forces into Sweida district for the next 48 hours,” the official said.
At the same time, a group of Israeli Druze citizens reportedly crossed into Syrian territory near the Golan Heights town of Majdal Shams. According to the IDF, some of them attempted to push past Israeli soldiers stationed along the border. The army confirmed efforts were underway to escort them back to Israeli territory.
President al-Sharaa, who has sought closer ties with the West, accused Israel of trying to destabilize Syria through sectarian provocation. In a televised address, he promised to protect Syria’s Druze community “as an integral part of the national fabric.” Reuters confirmed that a convoy of Interior Ministry troops was temporarily halted in Daraa province, awaiting final clearance to enter Sweida.
While the White House stated on Thursday that the earlier ceasefire “appeared to be holding,” field reports and local dynamics suggest that the situation remains fragile. With armed factions still mobilized, the durability of the truce will depend on whether external mediation can be matched by internal restraint — something Syria’s fragmented south has not seen in years.
