Syrian President Pledges Security For All Amid Sweida Tensions and Israeli Strikes

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced that local leaders in the city of Sweida will take over security responsibilities, emphasizing the protection of the country’s Druze minority amid recent sectarian clashes and Israeli airstrikes, Orda.kz reports, citing AP.

In a televised address on Thursday, al-Sharaa said safeguarding the rights of the Druze — who make up the majority in Sweida — is a top priority. The decision to hand over security to local elders and factions, he stated, was made “based on the supreme national interest.”

His remarks follow days of violent confrontations between Druze groups, Bedouin tribes, and government forces in southern Syria. The situation escalated further after Israeli airstrikes targeted sites near the presidential palace and military headquarters in Damascus, reportedly in response to perceived threats to the Druze population.

He warned against 'foreign or domestic' efforts to incite division. 

Ceasefire

The government and Druze leader Sheikh Yousef Jarbou have agreed to a ceasefire, with Syrian troops beginning to withdraw from Sweida. Dozens of military vehicles were seen leaving the city overnight.

Reports indicate that the situation on Thursday was “a tense calm,” noting that it was uncertain how long the ceasefire would hold. Purportedly, there are internal divisions within the Druze community regarding the new government, which assumed power after former President Bashar al-Assad was ousted in December.

While Jarbou supported the ceasefire and condemned Israeli strikes, saying “any attack on the Syrian state is an attack on the Druze community” — another Druze figure, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajari, rejected the agreement and vowed to continue fighting.

His current whereabouts remain unknown.

Casualties and Regional Response

Local sources reported at least 169 deaths in the recent violence, while the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights placed the toll at over 360.

In his speech, al-Sharaa accused Israel of trying to destabilize Syria:

The Israeli entity, which has consistently targeted our stability and sowed discord since the fall of the former regime, now seeks once again to turn our sacred land into a theatre of endless chaos, he said

He added that Israeli attacks, including one in Damascus that killed three and injured 34, risked sparking a broader conflict. According to al-Sharaa, the situation was defused only through mediation by U.S., Turkish, and Arab officials, reports Al Jazeera.

Al-Sharaa concluded by calling for unity:

International Reaction

The United States, which has recently signaled a more conciliatory approach toward Syria, urged restraint.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce described the episode as “a misunderstanding between new neighbours” and reiterated calls for Syrian troops to withdraw from the southern border to ease tensions.

Separately, she stated: 

Meanwhile, European Council President António Costa tweeted he was “very concerned” about Israeli airstrikes on Damascus, stressing that “Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity need to be respected” and urging all sides to de‑escalate. 

The EU also voiced alarm over the violence in Sweida, calling on external actors to respect Syria’s sovereignty and demanding civilian protections.