Netanyahu Orders Attack on Syrian Army in Sweida

SadaNews - The Syrian Ministry of Defense announced a ceasefire in Sweida after hours of the army's entry into the city located in the south of the country, aimed at ending clashes that resulted in dozens of deaths. This coincided with renewed Israeli airstrikes in the area and the announcement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to issue orders to attack Syrian forces in Sweida.

Syrian Defense Minister Marhaf Abu Qasra stated, "We announce a complete ceasefire after reaching an agreement with the dignitaries and elders of Sweida city," and affirmed the response to "sources of fire and dealing with any targeting by unlawful groups."

Abu Qasra pointed out that the entry of government forces into Sweida aims to stabilize the situation, protect civilians, and restore security. He talked about issuing strict instructions to the forces regarding the necessity of securing the civilians and maintaining social peace.

The minister confirmed the beginning of the deployment of military police forces within Sweida city to regulate military conduct, stating that the neighborhoods of the city will be handed over to internal security forces once the search operations are completed.

The Syrian news agency (SANA) reported that the army began withdrawing heavy vehicles from Sweida in preparation for handing the city’s neighborhoods over to the internal security forces, while the Ministry of Interior warned against any violations or encroachments on public or private property under any pretext in Sweida.

This came after hours of imposing a curfew, with the Syrian Interior Ministry quoting the head of internal security in Sweida province, Major General Ahmed Al-Dalati, saying that the curfew has been imposed in the city starting from 8 AM local time on Tuesday and will continue until further notice.

Al-Dalati called on the “leaders of factions and unlawful groups” not to obstruct the entry of the forces into the province and to surrender their weapons.

The spokesperson for the Syrian Interior Ministry threatened to target anyone who wishes to defy the state, welcoming any faction in Sweida that chooses to engage in the national project, saying, "Our goal is not revenge; rather, we aim to find a formula for national dialogue."

He stated that there is a party that has worked for seven months to stir discord and division, adding, "Unfortunately, there are isolationist currents trying to exacerbate the situation and provoke confrontational solutions... We do not rule out that the path aiming to undermine internal unity has external agendas.

The spiritual leadership of the Druze community in Syria welcomed the entry of forces from the Ministries of Interior and Defense to enforce control in Sweida and called on factions in the region to cooperate with these forces and not to resist, as well as to surrender their weapons to the interior ministry.

The spiritual leadership also called for dialogue with the government regarding the repercussions of events in Sweida and demanded the activation of state institutions in the province in cooperation with its residents.

Hokmat Al-Hajri, one of the three leading Druze clerics in Syria, initially agreed to the statement but later recanted, stating that the statement was imposed on him after numerous negotiations with the Syrian government and due to external pressures from unspecified countries.

Al-Hajri incited the members of the Druze community to resist the government forces, claiming that they "violated the agreement and continued their indiscriminate shelling of civilians."

Al-Hajri is known for his inciting stances against the Syrian government that governs the country after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, often calling for external intervention under the pretext of protecting his community’s members, despite many community leaders previously expressing their rejection of any foreign intervention in the country through statements, and the Syrian government asserting its commitment to guarantee the rights of all sects in the country.

Earlier, Syrian Information Minister Hamza Mustafa told Al Jazeera that the intervention of security forces in Sweida province was considered a last resort, expressing regret for calls from parties in the province for foreign assistance seeking international protection.

Forces from the General Security and the Syrian Ministry of Defense entered several areas in the countryside of Sweida province after bloody clashes between armed Druze groups and others from Bedouin tribes.

The Syrian authorities announced that the clashes resulted in more than 30 deaths and around 100 injuries, while Syrian media sources mentioned a higher death toll of nearly 90 casualties.

The spokesperson for the Syrian Ministry of Defense confirmed that 18 soldiers were killed and several others injured during the attempt to resolve the conflict in Sweida.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army launched airstrikes on different areas in Sweida, targeting one of the raids on the road leading into the city.

Following urgent meetings held today, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz announced an order for the army to attack Syrian forces and their weapons in Sweida, claiming that "the introduction of weapons to Sweida violates the previously established disarmament policy."

Netanyahu and Katz reiterated Israel's commitment to protect the Druze of Syria "based on the brotherhood alliance with the Druze of Israel."

The Israeli army announced attacking vehicles belonging to the Syrian regime in Sweida, stating that it attacked "vehicles including tanks, troop carriers, and rocket launchers in Sweida and routes to obstruct their access."

Al Jazeera's correspondent confirmed casualties among the forces of the Ministry of Interior due to Israeli airstrikes targeting them in the vicinity of Sweida.

Channel 14 reported an Israeli official stating that the attacks in southern Syria are being coordinated with the American side.

Israel has previously confirmed that it will intervene to protect the Druze minority if threatened, warning Syrian authorities against deploying their forces in areas in southern Syria adjacent to the Golan Heights, which is occupied by Israel.