The US expects the violence in southern Syria to end on Wednesday evening. According to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, agreements have been made with the warring parties regarding this.
Rubio says on X that the US has spoken with all parties involved. According to the minister, “specific steps” have been agreed upon to end the violence in the southern city of Suwayda. Rubio expects all parties to honor their agreements.
Druze, Bedouins, and the Syrian army have been fighting in Suwayda in recent days. Earlier on Wednesday evening, the government reported via news agency SANA the decision to lay down arms. A Druze leader confirmed this, but another leader of that minority group denied it and said they would continue fighting.
A ceasefire was also announced in the city on Tuesday, but it did not hold. The fighting continued on Wednesday.
Israel intervened in the conflict with airstrikes on the Syrian army and government buildings in Damascus. According to the Syrian Ministry of Health, 3 people were killed and 34 were injured.
Israel says it wants to protect the Druze. Suwayda is located deep in southern Syria, an area that Israel wants to be demilitarized.