Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and Syria’s interim leader Ahmad al-Sharaa have reportedly reached an agreement to implement a ceasefire, backed by U.S. diplomatic efforts. This development comes after a series of Israeli airstrikes in Damascus, targeting the Defense Ministry, which Israel claims were in defense of the Druze minority in southern Syria. U.S. Special envoy Tom Barrack, also serving as the ambassador to Türkiye, credited American diplomacy under President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for facilitating the breakthrough. Barrack emphasized the need for Druze, Bedouins, and Sunnis to unite and build a new Syrian identity in peace, with support from Türkiye and Jordan. The ceasefire follows intense clashes in Sweida province between Druze militias, Bedouin tribes, and central government forces, raising concerns about regional stability.
Netanyahu stated that Israel’s military action was a response to Damascus’s failure to adhere to its rules on demilitarization and protecting the Druze community. Syria’s new leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former commander of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has faced criticism for the violence against minorities, despite U.S. attempts to normalize relations with his leadership. Barrack, in a tweet, described the agreement as a breakthrough, crediting U.S. diplomacy for its success. The decision comes amid heightened tensions as Israel seeks to expand its influence in Syria beyond the Golan Heights, citing the need to counter potential hostile actors near its borders. The U.S. has also eased sanctions on Syria, indicating a shift in its stance toward the country’s new leadership. Analysts suggest that while the ceasefire offers temporary relief, lasting peace remains uncertain without broader regional cooperation and reconciliation efforts.
al-Sharaa, in a televised address, accused Israel of attempting to divide Syria and turn it into a battlefield of chaos. However, he also pledged to pursue a new deal with Druze factions, signaling a potential shift in his leadership’s approach. The U.S. has increasingly supported this new leadership, despite past designations of HTS and al-Sharaa as terrorists. This evolving diplomatic posture reflects the complex interplay between regional security and geopolitical strategy, with implications for stability in the Middle East. As the ceasefire takes hold, the focus now shifts to its implementation and the broader implications for Syria’s future and regional relations.