The Syrian presidency has announced an “immediate ceasefire” in the southern city of Suweida to try to bring an end to a week of sectarian violence that has left hundreds dead.
There have been chaotic gun battles on city streets between the local Bedouin tribesmen and the Druze community, with both accused of atrocities. Graphic footage shows bodies strewn in the streets.
“This moment requires unity of ranks and complete cooperation in order to overcome what we are all going through,” Syria’s interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa said.
Whether the ceasefire will be upheld on the ground is unclear, but unverified reports on Saturday suggested that fighting had not stopped.
The ceasefire announcement came as Syrian internal security forces were deployed to Suweida to end the clashes – a move approved by Israel as long as the Druze citizens were protected.
Suweida’s Druze community follows a secretive, unique faith derived from Shia Islam, and distrusts the current government in Damascus. They are a minority in Syria, as well as in neighbouring Israel and Lebanon.
Israel intervened in the conflict earlier this week, hitting government forces and the defence ministry building in Damascus as it declared support for the Druze.
On Saturday, Israel’s foreign minister cast doubt on a renewed pledge by Sharaa to protect minorities in Syria.
In a social media post, Gideon Saar said it was “very dangerous” to be part of a minority in Syria, and “this has been proven time and again over the past six months”.
He added: “The international community has a duty to ensure the security and rights of the minorities in Syria.”
According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (SOHR), 940 people have been killed since the violence erupted on Sunday.
The clashes initially started between Bedouin fighters and Druze factions, before drawing in government security forces that were sent to the area.
US ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, first announced that Syria and Israel had agreed to a ceasefire on Friday. He said the truce was supported by neighbours including Turkey and Jordan, however Israel has yet to comment on the agreement.
“We call upon Druze, Bedouins, and Sunnis to put down their weapons and together with other minorities build a new and united Syrian identity in peace and prosperity with its neighbours,” Barrack, who is also Washington’s Special Envoy for Syria, said.
The BBC’s Middle East correspondent Lina Sinjab, reporting from Syria, said violence towards the Druze is spreading across the country.
Earlier this week, UN human rights chief Volker Türk said his office had received credible reports indicating widespread violations and abuses during clashes, including summary executions and arbitrary killings in Suweida.
Among the alleged perpetrators were members of the security forces and individuals affiliated with the interim government, as well as local Druze and Bedouin armed elements, Türk said in a statement.
“This bloodshed and the violence must stop,” he warned, adding that “those responsible must be held to account”.
In his comments on Saturday morning, the Syrian leader said that his government “is committed to protecting all minorities and sects in the country and is proceeding to hold all violators accountable from any party. No one will escape accountability.”
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