Syria withdraws forces from Druze city after Israeli strikes

Syria withdraws forces from Druze city of Sweida after Israeli strikes — Syrian government Islamist forces in the Druze city of Sweida, Syria, July 2025. Photo: AFP

Syria withdraws forces from Sweida following Israeli strike

DAMASCUS,— Syrian government Islamist military units began retreating from the southern Druze city of Sweida on Wednesday, following Israeli airstrikes on the capital and renewed pressure from the United States to de-escalate tensions in the Druze-majority region, according to Syrian state media.

The development comes after Washington announced that an understanding had been reached to reduce hostilities in the region. U.S. officials urged all factions involved to uphold the commitments made under the reported agreement.

According to the Syrian Ministry of Defense, the army’s withdrawal marks the implementation of a truce aimed at restoring calm after days of heavy fighting that left hundreds dead.

A ministry statement said the forces had completed what it described as an operation to eliminate “unlawful groups” in Sweida, though it did not clarify whether other security units would also leave the area.

Local sources and activists, however, report continued tensions despite the ceasefire announcement. Eyewitnesses in Sweida told local reporters that gunfire could still be heard throughout the city on Wednesday night.

Fighting in the region escalated earlier this week after violent confrontations between Syrian government forces and local Druze fighters, with clashes also involving Bedouin tribes.

A dead body is seen on a street in the Druze city of Sweida following clashes between Syrian government-backed Islamist forces and Druze militias, July 2025. Photo: AFP

The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that more than 300 people had died since Sunday, including 27 Druze civilians allegedly executed without trial.

In response to the escalating violence, the U.S. called for Syrian forces to withdraw from Sweida and urged restraint from all involved parties.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a post on social media that all sides had agreed to a plan that would end the bloodshed, though specific details of the agreement were not disclosed.

“We expect all involved to follow through on their pledges and reduce tensions on the ground,” Rubio stated.

In parallel, Israeli forces launched air raids targeting positions in Damascus. The Israeli military said the strikes were carried out in defense of the Druze population in Sweida, though observers suggest the operations may also be aimed at limiting the presence of Syrian and allied forces near the Golan Heights.

Images distributed by news agencies showed part of a government building in the Damascus defense ministry compound heavily damaged.

Thick smoke was seen rising over the area after the attack. Israeli officials confirmed strikes near the presidential palace and the Mazzeh military airfield.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Damascus against targeting the Druze population, threatening further “painful responses” if military action against civilians continued.

Smoke rises from the Syria’s Ministry of Defense building in Damascus following twin Israeli airstrikes on July 16, 2025. Photo: Screengrab from Al Jazeera TV

Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the Israeli attacks, calling them a “grave escalation.” Meanwhile, Syria’s military command emphasized that its operations in Sweida had concluded in line with a new ceasefire brokered with the involvement of Druze community leaders.

The country’s interior ministry later announced the establishment of a joint committee involving government officials and Druze spiritual figures to ensure the ceasefire’s implementation.

Sheikh Youssef Jarboua, a prominent Druze leader, read the terms of the agreement on state television, including provisions for Sweida’s full integration under central government authority.

Despite the agreement, violence in Sweida remained ongoing. Activists reported sporadic gunfire and clashes in several districts.

The Syrian presidency pledged to investigate alleged war crimes and promised to hold accountable those found guilty of acts of violence during the recent conflict.

The clashes in Sweida are among the deadliest the province has seen in recent months. Previous rounds of violence between Druze groups and Bedouin tribes were sparked by the kidnapping of a Druze merchant, according to monitoring groups. Tensions between the two communities have persisted for decades.

The Syrian government, which has long struggled to manage ethnic and sectarian divisions within its borders, reiterated its commitment to preserving national unity.

The Syrian health ministry said at least three people were killed and 34 wounded in the Israeli strikes on Damascus.

The latest ceasefire attempt is the second effort in recent days to stabilize Sweida. A prior truce had collapsed after government forces allegedly joined with Bedouin fighters in assaults on Druze positions.

As international attention focuses on the region, Washington’s role in pushing for calm reflects renewed U.S. efforts to reengage diplomatically in Syria after years of limited involvement.

On Thursday, Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa emphasized that safeguarding the Druze community and their rights remains a top priority for the government.

In his first televised address following the recent intense Israeli airstrikes on Damascus, al-Sharaa spoke directly to Druze citizens, urging them to resist being drawn into conflicts instigated by outside forces.

“We reject any attempt to drag you into the hands of an external party,” he said.

Al-Sharaa underscored the resilience of the Syrian people, saying, “We are not among those who fear war. We have spent our lives confronting challenges and defending our people, but we have placed the interests of Syria above chaos and destruction.”

He concluded by affirming that Syrians are prepared to defend their dignity and sovereignty if threatened, signaling a readiness to confront any aggression.

(With files from France24 | AFP | Reuters)