Reporting from Damascus and Suweida

The Syrian presidency has declared an “immediate ceasefire” in the southern city of Suweida after a week of deadly sectarian violence between local Druze communities and Bedouin tribes. The clashes have reportedly claimed over 700 lives and left the streets littered with bodies, as chaos engulfed the region.

Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa addressed the nation, calling for national unity:

“This moment requires unity of ranks and full cooperation to overcome the ordeal we all face,” he said.

The Syrian internal security forces have been dispatched to Suweida to enforce the truce and restore order. This deployment was approved by Israel under the condition that the Druze population would be protected.

Earlier in the week, Israel carried out strikes against Syrian government targets, including the defense ministry in Damascus, in a show of support for the Druze—a religious minority that has historically kept a distance from the central government in Damascus. The Druze faith, an esoteric offshoot of Shia Islam, is practiced by a small population in Syria, Israel, and Lebanon.

The violence initially erupted last Sunday between Bedouin and Druze armed groups but quickly escalated, drawing in government forces. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that at least 718 people have died since the conflict began.

U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, confirmed on Friday that a ceasefire had been reached with both Syrian and Israeli backing. He stated that regional neighbors including Turkey and Jordan support the truce.

“We urge Druze, Bedouin, and Sunni communities to lay down their arms and work together to build a peaceful and united Syrian identity alongside neighboring nations,” said Barrack.

The BBC’s Middle East correspondent Lina Sinjab noted that attacks on Druze communities have begun to surface in other regions as well, raising alarm about wider sectarian spillover.

Meanwhile, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk condemned the situation, citing “credible reports” of widespread abuses in Suweida, including summary executions and arbitrary killings. Perpetrators reportedly include government-affiliated forces as well as Druze and Bedouin fighters.

“This bloodshed must end,” Türk stated. “All those responsible—regardless of affiliation—must be held accountable.”

President al-Sharaa echoed that sentiment, asserting that the government is committed to protecting all sects and minorities and pledging justice:

“No violator, from any party, will escape accountability,” he said Saturday.

As calm tentatively returns to Suweida, the international community watches closely, hoping the ceasefire holds and Syria can avoid deeper sectarian fragmentation.