U.S. Announces Ceasefire between Israel and Syria as Conflict Intensifies in Suwayda
US-brokered Syria-Israel ceasefire announced, but clashes continue as tribal forces advance on Suwayda with 718+ dead. Despite diplomatic efforts, field executions, airstrikes, and collapsed hospitals reveal an escalating humanitarian crisis amid fragile truce.
By Ahora Qadi
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – In a significant diplomatic development, U.S. Special Envoy for Syria, Ambassador Tom Barrack, announced early Saturday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa have reached a ceasefire agreement. The deal, according to Barrack, is supported by the United States, Türkiye, Jordan, and neighboring countries.
Call for Reconciliation and a New Syrian Identity
Posting on X, Ambassador Barrack declared the agreement a “breakthrough,” urging Druze, Bedouins, Sunnis, and other minorities to lay down their arms and participate in building a unified Syrian identity rooted in peace and regional cooperation. The post also cited the endorsement of the ceasefire by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
718 Killed as Tribal Forces Advance on Suwayda
Despite the announcement, the situation on the ground in Syria remains dire. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) informed Kurdistan24 that tribal forces continue their advance towards the city of Suwayda, opening a new front near Teloul al-Safa area in southeast Syria and pushing toward the al-Omran roundabout at the western entrance of the city.
The ongoing clashes, which erupted earlier this month, have now claimed 718 lives, including civilians, government forces, and members of various armed groups. According to SOHR, 226 of the dead are from Suwayda province, including 80 civilians—among them four children and four women.
Field Executions, Israeli Airstrikes, and Humanitarian Collapse
The Observatory also documented field executions of 165 individuals, including women and children, at the hands of government forces, while three members of Bedouin tribes, including a woman and a child, were summarily executed by Druze militants. At least 15 security personnel from the Ministries of Defense and Interior were killed in Israeli airstrikes, in addition to three civilians, including one woman, following the bombing of the Ministry of Defense building. An additional journalist lost his life in the clashes.
The humanitarian situation in Suwayda continues to deteriorate rapidly. All hospitals have gone out of service due to intense shelling and sustained firefights. Internet and communication services remain completely cut off, and the city has witnessed widespread looting and theft, exacerbating the suffering of its residents amid a total absence of medical and food aid.
Clashes Spill into Damascus Suburbs
According to SOHR, intermittent clashes have also been reported in the Damascus suburb of Jaramana, with gunfire heard from the areas of Maliha and Kashkoul for over an hour, indicating that the conflict continues to spread despite ceasefire efforts.
Uncertain Future Despite Diplomatic Momentum
While the ceasefire announcement by Ambassador Barrack offers a glimmer of hope for de-escalation, developments on the ground suggest that the road to peace remains fraught with challenges. The mounting death toll, the deepening humanitarian crisis, and ongoing violence cast doubt on the immediate implementation of the truce.
