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US says 'specific steps' agreed to end Syria violence after Israeli strikes hit Damascus
Israel says it is "working to save our Druze brothers", but Syria accuses it of "treacherous aggression".
www.bbc.com
Violence erupted in Syria’s Suweida province in mid-July 2025, beginning with a robbery and forced abduction of a Druze merchant by Bedouin tribesmen on the Damascus–Suweida highway, which triggered a cycle of retaliatory kidnappings and armed clashes between local Druze and Bedouin armed groups. The fighting rapidly escalated in Suweida city and surrounding villages, with reports of mortar attacks, house burnings, and significant displacement, while Syrian government security forces were deployed to restore order. Local sources indicate the violence has killed more than 350 people since the weekend, including civilians, Druze and Bedouin fighters, and government security personnel—some reportedly by summary executions by security forces—with hundreds more injured and widespread destruction of property. Israeli air strikes targeted Syrian military assets near Suweida, with Israeli officials justifying the intervention as a move to protect Syria’s Druze minority, drawing condemnation from Syria and complicating the crisis. Ceasefires and de-escalation calls by local leaders and the government have seen limited success, with sporadic violence and mistrust persisting. The United Nations and international rights groups have expressed deep concern over the escalating sectarian violence, the targeting of civilians, and the urgent need for humanitarian access and protection for all affected communities. The unrest highlights ongoing security challenges and sectarian divisions facing Syria’s interim government, with no clear resolution in sight despite repeated calls for restraint and political dialogue.