Syria, Israel agree to ceasefire, says US envoy
Share and Follow


The U.S. envoy to Syria announced on Friday that the country and Israel reached a ceasefire deal.

“We call upon Druze, Bedouins, and Sunnis to put down their weapons and together with other minorities build a new and united Syrian identity in peace and prosperity with its neighbors,” Tom Barrack posted on the social media platform X. 

Barrack said the deal was supported by the U.S., Turkey, Jordan and other neighbors. 

The ceasefire comes after Israel struck southern Syria in the Suwayda province and the capital Damascus earlier this week in defense of the Druze, a religious Arab minority, who are against the current Syrian government led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa. 

Israeli strikes targeted multiple public buildings, including the Syrian Ministry of Defense in the center of Damascus. 

A series of clashes began on June 13 between Druze militias and the Bedouin tribes, who are pro-government. Syrian officials sent armed forces to quell the fighting, but instead, government forces sided with the Bedouins. 

In response, Israel defended the Druze as they are loyal to the state and often participate in the Israeli armed forces.

The latest clashes have led to at least 100 deaths. 

Syrian officials and leaders from the Druze religious minority announced their own ceasefire on July 17. However, the night of, clashes erupted again. The Syrian president said the government would send a “specialized force to break up clashes and resolve the conflict on the ground.”

The U.S. has been involved diplomatically to try to resolve the conflict. 

“We have agreed on specific steps that will bring this troubling and horrifying situation to an end tonight. This will require all parties to deliver on the commitments they have made, and this is what we fully expect them to do,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote in a Wednesday X post.

On Friday, Rubio called Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, CNN reported.

The government has been trying to ease tensions between religious factions since Syria’s former president Bashar al-Assad was ousted in December. 

“We affirm that protecting your rights and freedoms is among our top priorities,” said al-Sharaa, specifically addressing Druze people in Syria. “We reject any attempt — foreign or domestic — to sow division within our ranks. We are all partners in this land, and we will not allow any group to distort the beautiful image that Syria and its diversity represent.”

Since the beginning of the clashes, the U.N. has reported that nearly 80,000 people have been displaced. Moreover, water systems and electricity have collapsed. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Trump Commends Veterans, Describing Them as the ‘Steadfast Guardians of Our 250-Year Legacy of Freedom

Each Veterans Day, the nation pauses to honor the brave men…

Trump Surprises Laura Ingraham with Shift in Stance on Foreign Worker Visas

During a recent interview with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham, former President Donald…

Nikki Haley’s Son Faces Backlash Over Comments on Housing Crisis Amid Controversial Photos

Nikki Haley’s son recently made his television debut on Fox News, and…

Tragic Loss: Beloved Father and Binman Killed in Devastating Lorry Crash

A father of three who tragically lost his life when a garbage…

AAG Dhillon Criticizes UC Berkeley’s Handling of TPUSA Incident

Our reporter, Jennifer Oliver O’Connell, provided an in-depth analysis of the…

Texas Congressman Announces 2026 Departure: A New Era on the Horizon

Republican Representative Jodey Arrington from Texas’ 19th District announced on Tuesday…

Ex-Capitol Police Officer Shauni Kerkhoff Implicated in January 6 Pipe Bomb Case

A forensic investigation commissioned by Blaze News has identified former U.S. Capitol…

Historic Mamdani Win: A Turning Point in Global Support for Palestinian Rights

The executive director of the Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic…