The Syrian government and Druze leaders in Suwayda have reached a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending weeks of clashes and reestablishing state authority over the restive province. Under the deal, Suwayda will be fully reintegrated into Syria’s state structures, with all government institutions restored. The agreement comes amid continued Israeli airstrikes on Syrian military targets and rising tensions over foreign involvement in the country’s southern region.

After weeks of intense negotiations and armed confrontations, Damascus announced a formal ceasefire deal with Druze leaders in Suwayda province. The agreement sets out a framework for restoring stability and government control over the area, which had seen rising unrest and armed clashes between local factions and state forces.

According to Syrian officials, the agreement includes the following key points:

• Full reintegration of Suwayda into the Syrian state, with all government institutions, courts, and administrative bodies resuming normal functions.
• Guarantees of citizen rights based on principles of justice, equality, and non-discrimination.
• Formation of a joint committee tasked with investigating past violations, addressing grievances, and providing reparations where appropriate.
• Security of the Damascus-Suwayda road, a vital lifeline for commerce and mobility, to be guaranteed by state security forces.
• Withdrawal of army units from within urban areas of Suwayda, with responsibility for day-to-day security to be handed over to local police and reactivated security checkpoints under the supervision of trusted local figures and law enforcement from within the community.

Syrian Defense Ministry spokesperson Adi al-Abdullah stated, “This agreement reflects our commitment to preserving Syria’s unity and respecting the social fabric of Suwayda while upholding the rule of law.”

President al-Sharaa: Syria’s Unity Will Not Be Undermined by Foreign Plots

In a televised speech following the latest Israeli strikes and the intensifying conflict in Suwayda, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued a firm message asserting the central government's authority and rejecting all attempts to fracture Syrian sovereignty. Al-Sharaa framed the current crisis within a broader struggle against foreign conspiracies aimed at weakening Syria. “Syria is not and will never be a playground for conspiracies,” he said. “Those who seek to divide us, whether by force or deception, will fail.”

Al-Sharaa emphasized that the state had made the calculated decision to entrust Druze community leaders and local factions with maintaining security in Suwayda. This, he said, was not a concession but a pragmatic step aimed at preserving national unity and avoiding a broader war that could draw Syria deeper into chaos. “We have tasked the sons of Suwayda themselves, along with their dignitaries and local factions, with safeguarding their streets, their neighborhoods, and their dignity — not as a separate entity, but as an inseparable part of Syria,” he declared.

The president denounced Israel’s repeated efforts to manipulate Syria’s internal dynamics, warning that Tel Aviv’s rhetoric about protecting minorities masks its true intention of fostering sectarian division. “We know well that Israel’s interest lies in fragmentation, not protection. It thrives where divisions run deep. Our duty is to thwart this plan through unity, dignity, and steadfastness.”

Al-Sharaa praised the Druze community as “an essential part of Syria’s national fabric” and reaffirmed the state's commitment to their protection, explicitly rejecting any foreign protection schemes. “Syria’s strength lies in its diversity, and our priority is to ensure that no foreign hand uses this diversity as a wedge against our sovereignty,” he said.

The president’s remarks also served as a warning to those within the country who, in his words, seek foreign intervention to advance narrow interests. “Those who attempt to drag Suwayda or any other part of Syria into foreign agendas will find that the state remains vigilant, prepared, and committed to protecting its people from division and from war.”

Jumblatt Urges Reconciliation and Rejects Israeli Interference

In a rare public appearance addressing the crisis, former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt condemned Israel’s escalating strikes on Damascus and dismissed any suggestion that Israel’s actions serve to protect the Druze community. Speaking in an interview with Syrian television, Jumblatt emphasized that Israel’s longstanding policy has been to exploit minorities as political tools, not to offer genuine protection.

“I know from history and from experience that Israel’s claims to protect minorities are nothing more than a cynical pretext,” Jumblatt said. “They used this narrative before, and they’re using it again now with the Druze. We must not fall into this trap.”

Jumblatt called for a “grand national reconciliation” between the Syrian government and the people of Suwayda, stressing that dialogue, not division, is the only viable solution. “The future of Suwayda must not be decided in foreign capitals or through Israeli military calculations. It must be determined through open, honest dialogue between Damascus and the mountain, between state institutions and the people who have lived there for centuries,” he said.

He revealed that he had been in contact with senior Syrian officials, including the defense and interior ministers, to urge restraint and encourage steps towards de-escalation. “It is time for calm heads to prevail. We must seek reconciliation, not retaliation. Reconciliation within Syria is the answer — not fragmentation, not foreign protection, and certainly not war.”

Jumblatt warned against the dangers of further militarizing the crisis, calling on all sides to reject violence and prioritize unity. “We must neutralize those who seek to exploit this unrest for their own agendas. The strength of Syria, of the Druze, of all its people, lies in unity, not in isolation or in seeking foreign patrons.”

Reaffirming his opposition to militias and unchecked armament, Jumblatt advocated for a process of demilitarization in Suwayda through state channels and community cooperation. “Weapons must return to the state. Dialogue must replace arms. This is the only path to lasting peace.”

Israeli Strikes Intensify Amid Suwayda Unrest

As Syria and Druze leaders in Suwayda edged toward a ceasefire, Israel significantly escalated its military campaign across southern and western Syria, targeting key military installations to hinder Damascus' efforts to regain control. Israel’s actions have been framed as measures to "protect the Druze," but Syrian officials accuse Tel Aviv of fueling unrest and preventing the Syrian state from reasserting its authority.

Between July 14 and 16, Israeli warplanes launched over 30 airstrikes on Syrian military positions in Suwayda, neighboring Daraa and Presidental Palace and Defense Ministry building in Damascus.

These strikes targeted government armor and logistical hubs crucial for counter-operations against Druze militants, many of whom were entrenched in civilian neighborhoods. Israel’s bombardment aimed to disrupt Syrian army movements and limit its ability to reinforce positions near Druze-held strongholds.

In addition to southern Syria, Israeli jets expanded their campaign to western and central regions, striking military installations in Latakia and Damascus. Among the sites targeted were the 107th and 132nd Brigades, the Mezzeh military airport, Qatana, and Al Moadamyeh. These strikes further weakened Syria’s defensive and logistical capabilities and underscored Israel’s willingness to engage across a broader theater to achieve its objectives.

• Suwayda City (West & Center): Israeli strikes focused on disrupting Syrian armored movements and blocking reinforcements intended to encircle Druze militants.
• Al-Mazraa: Attacked to prevent Syrian forces from advancing on key Druze militants’ positions.
• Al-Tha’lah Airbase: Targeted to neutralize Syrian logistical and potential air support capabilities for operations in Suwayda.
• Izra (12th Brigade Headquarters): Bombed to obstruct staging grounds for Syrian counter-offensives into Suwayda.
• 52nd Brigade, Eastern Daraa: Hit to disrupt heavy troop deployments poised to support operations against Druze militants.

Israeli strikes peaked on July 16 with more than seven confirmed airstrikes on these critical locations. These attacks caused significant damage to Syrian infrastructure and further complicated Damascus' military calculus. Syrian sources reported that the strikes resulted in considerable casualties among army personnel and left key facilities temporarily inoperable.

Separately, unverified reports claim Israeli helicopters were seen operating near Salkhad in Suwayda province, allegedly airdropping weapons or equipment to unidentified actors. While Damascus has not confirmed these reports, Syrian officials interpret these alleged actions as part of Israel’s broader strategy to destabilize the region by covertly supporting factions on the ground.

A Fragile Peace

While the ceasefire agreement in Suwayda offers a temporary halt to weeks of deadly clashes, analysts warn that the deep-rooted tensions remain unresolved. The conflict stems from historical grievances between the Druze community and Damascus, centered on demands for autonomy, protection of cultural rights, and longstanding distrust toward the central government. The success of the agreement hinges on Damascus’ ability to deliver on promises of rights, justice, and security, as well as the restraint of foreign actors and local factions.

President Ahmed al-Sharaa presented the deal as a victory for national unity, declaring, “Our unity is our future. Our choice is clear: we will rebuild Syria together, not as fragmented sects, but as one people with a common destiny.” His remarks sought to project stability and a rejection of foreign interference.

However, defiance persists within Suwayda. Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, the province’s leading Druze religious authority, rejected the ceasefire and vowed to continue the fight until Suwayda is “fully liberated” from Damascus’ control. His call reflects a broader sentiment among segments of the Druze population that see the central government’s promises as insufficient or insincere.

Laith al-Balous, a prominent Druze leader, echoed this rejection of foreign involvement and partition schemes while reaffirming loyalty to Syria as a sovereign nation. “Our position on the Israeli state is clear. We do not need anyone to protect us,” he said. “Syria is our only homeland. Either we live here with dignity or die with dignity. This has been our stance since the revolution began.”

Al-Balous firmly rejected any notions of outside interference, stating, “We are against foreign and partition projects. Now, with a legitimate Syrian state, interference and partition talk are unacceptable.” His words underscored the Druze community’s dual rejection of both Israeli involvement and any erosion of Syria’s territorial integrity, while insisting on dignity and rights within a united Syria.

Observers caution that unless Damascus delivers tangible reforms and addresses deep-seated grievances, the current calm may prove short-lived. Without genuine reconciliation, Suwayda’s fragile peace remains at risk.