The United States announced that “specific steps” had been agreed upon to end the escalating violence in southern Syria, shortly after Israeli forces launched multiple strikes on Damascus and Suweida, targeting the Syrian defence ministry and government positions.
The development comes amid a deadly flare-up of sectarian violence in the predominantly Druze province of Suweida, where fighting between Druze militias and Bedouin tribes has reportedly left more than 300 people dead since Sunday.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking on X (formerly Twitter), said Washington was “very worried” about the situation but was hopeful that calm would return soon.
“We have agreed on specific steps that will bring this troubling and horrifying situation to an end tonight,” Rubio posted late Wednesday, without disclosing further details. Syrian state media later welcomed the US and Arab mediation efforts aimed at resolving the crisis peacefully.
Meanwhile, the Syrian state news agency Sana reported that government forces had begun withdrawing from Suweida following an agreement with local Druze religious leaders. The army’s withdrawal was described as a move taken after “the completion of the army’s pursuit of outlaw groups.”
Israeli strikes target defense ministry
The Israeli military on Wednesday confirmed carrying out airstrikes on what it described as Syrian military targets in both Damascus and Suweida. One of the strikes reportedly hit near the entrance of the defence ministry in Umayyad Square, a central and symbolic location in Damascus.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the operations were aimed at “saving our Druze brothers and eliminating the regime’s gangs”. Defence Minister Israel Katz, in a post on X, said the Israeli military would continue its campaign “vigorously in Suweida” until hostile forces were completely removed.
