Syria on Tuesday asserted its right to defend its territory by all means under international law, after Israel announced it had struck Syrian army military vehicles in the predominantly Druze province of Suwayda, where a ceasefire has now been declared after days of deadly clashes.
Syria’s Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra announced a complete ceasefire in the southern city of Suwayda on Tuesday following an agreement with local dignitaries, after dozens were killed and around 200 injured in armed clashes between local Druze groups and Bedouin tribes since Saturday.
The Syrian army has begun withdrawing heavy machinery from Suwayda in preparation for handing over the city’s neighbourhoods to internal security forces, state news agency SANA reported.
“To all operational units within the city of Suwayda, we declare a complete ceasefire,” Abu Qasra said in a statement. “Forces will begin handing over the city’s neighbourhoods to internal security forces as soon as clearing operations are complete.”
The moves came after Israeli airstrikes hit the city, according to SANA. An Israeli military spokesperson said the attack came after it monitored convoys of armoured personnel carriers and tanks moving towards the Suwayda area on Monday. Israel said it struck several armoured vehicles, including tanks, personnel carriers, and rocket launchers, as well as roads to obstruct their advance.
“The Israeli military continues to monitor and follow developments and remains on high alert,” the spokesperson said.
The Israeli military later said that dozens of Israelis had crossed into Syria from the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, and that it was working to ensure their safe return. It was not immediately clear how they had crossed the border.
The Israeli strikes followed an order from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz. A joint statement said the attack was a response to Syria’s decision to deploy forces and weapons in southern Syria, calling it a “violation of a previous agreement and a threat to Israel’s security.” Defence Minister Katz added that the strikes were a “clear warning to the Syrian regime” and that Tel Aviv would “not allow harm to the Druze residents in Syria.”
Syrian joint army and internal security forces had entered Suwayda earlier on Tuesday, imposing a curfew. It marked the first time government forces have deployed in the city since the transitional government took power in December following the overthrow of former President Bashar al-Assad.
The deployment came after Druze leaders, who had previously rejected any presence of Syrian forces, urged Druze fighters to lay down their arms and allow government forces to enter.
However, the spiritual leader of the Druze community, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri, who had initially welcomed the deployment, later appeared to retract his support in a televised statement. He claimed a previous statement had been imposed on him “by Damascus under pressure from external parties” and that the government had “broken its covenant” by continuing to shell civilians. “We are facing a comprehensive war of annihilation,” he said, calling for resistance.
On Monday evening, a Syrian defence ministry spokesperson announced that 18 army personnel had been killed in armed attacks on military points in the province.
