The Media Line: Syrian Army Takes Control of As-Suwayda and Announces Ceasefire  

Syrian Army Takes Control of As-Suwayda and Announces Ceasefire  

By Rizik Alabi / The Media Line 

Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra announced on Tuesday a full ceasefire in the predominantly Druze city of As-Suwayda, following an agreement with the city’s elders and dignitaries. The truce comes after fierce morning clashes as Syrian forces entered the city and is part of a broader plan to stabilize the area.  

A media source in the Syrian Ministry of Defense told The Media Line that Minister Abu Qasra informed all military units operating in As-Suwayda of the ceasefire following consultations with local leaders. The directive instructed forces to respond only to sources of fire.  

He added that the army would begin “handing over the city’s neighborhoods to the Internal Security Forces as soon as clearing operations are completed, in order to restore stability and allow civilians to return to their homes,” while also confirming the start of “military police deployment inside As-Suwayda to regulate military conduct and hold violators accountable.”  

This move follows heavy fighting that broke out earlier in the day, coinciding with the entry of Syrian government troops into the city. The military push has reduced the intensity of confrontations at the city’s entrances, but tension remains high.  

Israel escalated its response to the situation, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz instructing the Israeli military to strike Syrian forces and military equipment positioned in As-Suwayda “immediately.” Israeli warplanes later conducted airstrikes on several locations within the southern Syrian city.  

In reaction, Damascus confirmed that the Syrian Arab Army continues to “pursue lawless groups around the city,” emphasizing that operations aimed at “imposing security and stability” are ongoing.  

As-Suwayda Province has been witnessing escalating tensions for several days, which peaked last Sunday after bloody clashes erupted between local factions and armed men from Bedouin tribes, following a series of mutual kidnappings. The confrontations left about 30 people dead and over 100 wounded, including women and children. Authorities deployed army and internal security reinforcements to control the situation.  

In a significant turn, prominent Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al‑Hijri issued a recorded statement calling for resistance to the military campaign “by all available means.” He accused the Syrian government of “breaking its promises.”  

He said: “Despite our acceptance of this humiliating statement in order to preserve the safety of our people, the indiscriminate shelling of unarmed civilians has continued.”  

Previously, Druze religious authorities — including al‑Hijri himself — had advised local fighters to lay down their arms and avoid confrontation with the Syrian army. That position changed in response to continued attacks on civilian areas.  

The developments in As-Suwayda are seen as the first major challenge for the government of President Ahmed al‑Sharaa, who assumed office in December after the ouster of former President Bashar Assad. The new administration has vowed to reassert centralized control over all of Syria.  

But many Druze residents have expressed skepticism about the government’s intentions, voicing opposition to the military’s presence and favoring local security arrangements — a system in place since last May.  

Although an agreement had been reached allowing Druze factions to manage city security in coordination with Damascus, the presence of armed men from Sunni Bedouin tribes in nearby areas has deepened sectarian concerns and raised fears of a broader conflict.  

Western envoys who visited Damascus recently have called on the Syrian government to protect minorities and ensure their inclusion in the political transition. International concerns are mounting over the potential marginalization of key communities. 

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