Have Syria's Druze Leaders Reached a Ceasefire Agreement?

Damascus, July 17 (NationPress) A ceasefire agreement has been successfully established between the Syrian interim authorities and the Druze community in the southern province of Sweida, aiming to put an end to days of deadly confrontations and restore full state control over the province, as reported by Syria's interior authorities.

The Syrian interior authorities communicated in a statement released by state-run SANA on Wednesday that the agreement entails a comprehensive cessation of military operations, the installation of internal security checkpoints, and the reinstatement of all state institutions in compliance with Syrian law, as noted by Xinhua news agency.

Spiritual Druze leader Sheikh Youssef Jarbouh confirmed the agreement, detailing terms that require the withdrawal of military units back to their barracks, the creation of a joint monitoring committee with representatives from both the state and the Druze community, and initiatives to manage unauthorized arms in collaboration with defense and interior authorities.

However, significant internal divisions surfaced among the Druze leadership. Prominent Druze cleric Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, in a separate statement, dismissed any arrangement with what he termed the "so-called government," pledging to persist in armed resistance.

"We reassert the necessity for legitimate self-defense and ongoing combat until our province is completely liberated from these criminal armed groups," declared the statement, accusing interim government forces of committing atrocities, including killings, looting, and the destruction of hospitals and places of worship.

Al-Hijri refuted the existence of any legitimate negotiations or mandates granted to the interim government, cautioning that any individual or party that acts independently or enters into unilateral agreements would face accountability.

The recent ceasefire comes after four days of violent clashes that resulted in at least 248 fatalities, comprising civilians, military personnel, and Bedouin fighters, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The interim government previously reached a ceasefire agreement with local Druze leaders on Tuesday. Despite this agreement, further ground clashes erupted, displacing thousands of residents.

The unrest was ignited by the beating and robbery of a young Druze man at a makeshift checkpoint established by armed Bedouins. This incident led to retaliatory kidnappings and sparked clashes involving local Druze militias, Bedouin tribes, and Syrian interim forces.

Israel has conducted a series of airstrikes on military positions in Sweida and Damascus in recent days, claiming to safeguard the Druze community.