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3w ago

Syria and Israel Formalize Fragile Truce in Sweida with Limited Troop Returns

A US-mediated accord grants Damascus 48-hour access to deploy internal security forces, ceding daily policing to Druze factions under tense calm

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Smoke rises as a damaged car remains along a street, as Sweida province has been engulfed by nearly a week of violence triggered by clashes between Bedouin fighters and factions from the Druze, at Sweida governorate, Syria, July 18, 2025. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri
Bedouin fighters from various provinces gather at Umayyad Square in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, July 19, 2025, before heading to the southern province of Sweida to join clashes between Bedouin clans and Druze militias. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)
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Overview

  • The Syrian presidency announced an immediate, comprehensive ceasefire on July 19, urging all sides in Sweida to halt fighting.
  • US envoy Tom Barrack said Israel agreed to let Syrian internal security units enter the province for a 48-hour window under the truce.
  • Druze militias and clerics have been tasked with maintaining local security after most government forces withdrew from Sweida.
  • Syrian state media and monitors report sporadic clashes and revenge attacks despite the ceasefire, testing the deal’s endurance.
  • Nearly 80,000 people have been displaced and essential services including water, electricity and healthcare have collapsed during the fighting.