The ceasefire between Israel and Syria has come into effect, United States Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack, who is also Washington’s special envoy for Syrian affairs, said.
“As of 17: 00 Damascus time, all parties have agreed to a cessation of hostilities”. The next step towards inclusivity and a lasting reduction in tensions is a full exchange of hostages” and detainees, the logistics are being worked out,” Barrack said.
He said “the escalation of hostilities can only be halted with an agreement to end the violence,” protect innocent people, allow access for humanitarian organisations and move away from danger.”
Earlier, on 19 July, Syria and Israel agreed to conclude a truce – this, in particular, the United States Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack, who participated in the settlement of the conflict, said.
“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu” and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa with the support of the United States agreed on a ceasefire supported by Turkey, Jordan and its neighbours, – wrote the American diplomat in the social network X (formerly Twitter).
Syria TV also reported that Syria’s transitional president Ahmed al-Sharaa announced an immediate ceasefire.
Israel, for its part, expressed grave concern about the situation of ethnic and religious minorities in Syria amid a sharp escalation of violence in Al-Suweida province.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, more than 900 people, including women, children and medical personnel, have been killed in the province in recent days. Local sources also report abductions and extrajudicial killings.
On 15 July, the Syrian military entered the southern city of Al-Suwayda, where clashes broke out between Druze and Bedouins. The unrest left more than 30 people dead and about 100 injured, according to the Syrian Interior Ministry. The death toll rose to 248 after troops moved in, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri, one of the leaders of the Druze minority, accused the Syrian government of violating the truce and bombing the city. The Syrian military says it is only returning fire.
The Israel Defence Forces launched strikes against the Syrian military in the Al-Suweida region on July 15. The military said in a statement that Israel is “committed to preventing harm to the Druze” in Syria through “a deep fraternal alliance with our friendly fellow citizens in Israel.”
On 16 July, the Israeli military was involved in clashes on the border between the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights and Syria. Dozens of Druze are reportedly trying to make their way into Israeli-controlled territory, while at the same time hundreds of Druze living in the Golan are trying to make their way in the opposite direction, protesting against the Syrian authorities.