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United States Ambassador to Türkiye and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack on Tuesday described the deadly violence in Syria’s southern province of Sweida as “worrisome” and said Washington is working to help restore calm.
“The recent skirmishes in Sweida are worrisome on all sides, and we are attempting to come to a peaceful, inclusive outcome for Druze, Bedouin tribes, the Syrian government and Israeli forces,” Barrack said in a statement on X, referencing the parties involved in the violence since Sunday.
On Monday, more than 30 people were killed and nearly 100 others injured in fierce clashes between Bedouin tribal fighters and Druze militias in Sweida, according to Syria’s Interior Ministry..
The spiritual leadership of Syria’s Druze community Tuesday morning called on all armed groups in Sweida to fully cooperate with government security forces and surrender their weapons.
Ahmed al-Dalati, head of internal security in Sweida, later announced a citywide curfew effective Tuesday morning “until further notice.”
Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s regime leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia in December, ending the Baath Party regime, which had ruled since 1963. A transitional administration led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa was formed in January.
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Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes conducted multiple airstrikes targeting positions in southern Syria’s Sweida governorate and the Daraa region.
Syria’s Foreign Ministry condemned the strikes on Tuesday as a “treacherous aggression,” calling them a severe breach of international law.
“This criminal act constitutes a blatant violation of the sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic, a flagrant breach of the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations,” the ministry said in a statement.
In a related development, Washington reportedly urged Israel to halt its attacks on Syrian government forces in the south.
According to Israeli media outlet Channel 12, Israel agreed to cease its operations against Syrian army units as of Tuesday evening following discussions with U.S. officials.
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