Syrian government declares truce following sectarian clashes

Syria’s defence minister declared a truce after government forces entered the country’s Suweida city to minimise the violence that killed dozens of people, according to The New Arab plus agencies on July 15th.

Syria’s defence minister, Murhaf Abu Qasra, announced a ceasefire between local Druze militias, government forces as well as Bedouin tribes, in the southern province of Syria, Suweida.

“We are announcing a complete ceasefire after agreement with the city’s notables and dignitaries,” Abu Qasra said.

Government forces began entering the Druze-majority city on July 15th after clashes between Druze militias and most Sunni Bedouin tribes. Hundreds of people were found dead and injured during the clashes, which ignited in the city’s Al-Muqawas area on July 13th.

The conflict escalated into the Suweida countryside, when armed groups purportedly raided different villages, assaulted a government checkpoint, and obstructed the main road leading to Damascus. The government then deployed security forces into the province, capturing a number of Druze villages, and then further moved into the Suweida province. Before the fighting, the Suweida province was mostly controlled by local militias.

Furthermore, the defence ministry states that at least 18 members of security forces were found dead as a result of the clashes, with the violence continuing to the western part of Suweida ahead of the ceasefire announcement.

There has been a disputes among Druze leaders about how to respond to the government’s presence into the province. In a statement made on July 14th, the Druze spiritual Presidency urged for militias to lay down there arms.

“Negotiations are underway between the notables of the city of Suweida and representatives of the general security (forces) and the defence ministry to reach a solution,” according to Bassem Fakhr.

Nevertheless, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijiri, who is one of the three Druze spiritual leaders in the province, was against the presence of forces in Suweida and called for “international protection.”

In a video published on July 15th, Sheikh claimed the presidency’s statement was made under the pressure of Damascus and claimed the government is encouraging a “comprehensive war of extermination” against the Druze people.

Sheikh’s remarks came amid Israeli threats to intervene in Syria in order to allegedly protect the Druze people. The Israeli military has launched airstrikes against Syrian military targets since the conflict began. On July 14th, Israel bombed various tanks deployed in west Suweida. New rounds of raids operated by Israeli forces were reported in the province on July 15th.

Druze leaders have been divided about how to engage with the Syrian government due to concerns about its Sunni Islamist background and how it approaches minorities within Syria. Damascus has had discussions with the community over reintegrating Suweida province, which had some autonomy for years, into national institutions like the army, however the talks have not come to fruition.

Different groups, such as the Men of Dignity, stated that they are willing to join the army, whilst Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijiri alongside his followers, are still against the government.

The New Arab plus agencies, AFP