Syrian forces retreat from the south, amid Israeli threat

Syria’s government officials and leaders in the Druze minority declared a ceasefire on July 16th, following sectarian clashes which prompted intervention from Israel, according to Asharq-Al-Awsat via The Associated Press on July 17th.

Clashes between the Druze minority and government officials exposed the country’s challenging postwar political transition and have piqued the interest of neighbour Israel, which carried out military intervention.

On July 14th, forces were deployed in the Syrian province of Sweida, as 50 people were killed amid sectarian clashes.

Groups of government forces began retreating from the city of Sweida, despite uncertainties that the truce declared by Syria’s interior minister and Druze religious leader would hold. A previous ceasefire was announced on July 15th, but ended quickly. The Druze leader, Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijiri, disapproved of the new agreement.

The declaration of the truce came after Israeli strikes hit Damascus, with the need to defend the Druze minority in Syria and push away the militants from the border. The Druze minority formed a community in both Israel and Syria, where in Israel, they are seen as a loyal minority, often assisting in conflicts for Israel.

The growing tensions between the Druze and the Syrian government were due to kidnappings and attacks between local Bedouin tribes and the Druze community in the Southern area of Sweida.

A swift offensive, led by the opposition faction, led to the removal of the previous leader, Bashar Assad, who fled Syria, ending the 14-year civil war.

The new Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, announced via state television on July 17th, that the Druze minority is an integral part of Syria and added that Israel’s attack caused division within Syria.

The struggles of the new government in Syria, and the ongoing violence, have put the government under increasing pressure to strengthen the country.

“We affirm that protecting your rights and freedoms is among our top priorities,” President al-Shaara stated, addressing the Druze minority inside Syria. “We reject any attempt, foreign or domestic, to sow division within our ranks. We are all partners within this land, and we will not allow any group to distort the beautiful image that Syria and its diversity represent.”

He further stated that Syrians do not fear further conflict but seek the path of their country’s interest. “We assigned local factions and Druze spiritual leaders the responsibility of maintaining security in (Sweida), recognizing the gravity of the situation and the need to avoid dragging the country” into another conflict. 

No casualty data has been released for the latest fighting since July 14th, despite the Interior Ministry stating that 30 people have been found dead. The UK-based war monitor, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, stated that roughly 300 people were found dead since July 16th; these figures include four children, eight women, and 165 soldiers and security forces within Syria.

Israel has threatened Syria with further attacks. Israel has already launched strikes aimed at government troops and convoys heading to Sweida. On July 16th, Israel struck the Syrian Defense Ministry headquarters.

The strike caused the death of three people and caused 34 to suffer injuries, according to Syrian officials. Another Israeli air strike hit an area near the Presidential Palace, outside Damascus.

Israeli Defence Minister Katz stated on X that the initial Damascus air strikes were a signal that “painful blows” have started.

Katz further stated that the Israeli army “will continue to attack regime forces until they withdraw from the area, and will also soon raise the bar of responses against the regime if the message is not understood.”

An anonymous Israeli military official explained that the army was preparing for a “multitude of scenarios” and suggested that thousands of soldiers were being relocated from Gaza and deployed to the Golan Heights.

Asharq Al-Awsat via The Associated Press, Maghrebi.org