Netanyahu ordered air strikes to defend Minoria Drusa, in confrontation with groups in Sweida, near the border with Jordan
Israel and Syria established a ceasefire, according to the governments of the 2 countries on Saturday (19.Jul.2025). The agreement arises after Israel made air strikes against Syria earlier this week, with the aim of defending the Drusa minority.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud, right) confirmed the pact. Tom Barrack, a special sent from the United States to Syria and ambassador in Türkiye, was the 1st to disclose the agreement.
The Syrian Presidency explained the reasons for accepting the ceasefire in a statement released by Telegram and quoted by: “In view of the delicate circumstances the country is going through, in order to save the blood of the Syrians, to preserve the unity of the Syrian territory and the safety of its people, and in response to national and humanitarian responsibility, the Presidency of the Arab Republic Syrian declares a comprehensive and immediate ceasefire”.
The conflict that motivated the agreement occurred because of clashes between the Drusa minority and other groups in southern Sweida, Syria. These clashes resulted in hundreds of deaths last week.
On Friday (18.Jul), Israel agreed to allow Syria to send troops to the Sweida region for a period of 48 hours to end the clashes, according to, citing an Israeli employee.
Israel made air strikes against the Syrian capital, Damascus, and the south of the country as part of its intervention. The Druse minority is present not only in Sweida, but also in Israeli territory and Lebanon.
Netanyahu characterized the agreement as a force -based achievement: “This is a ceasefire achieved through force. Not through supplications, not by begging – by the force”.
The ceasefire agreement has the support of Türkiye, Jordan, and neighboring countries, as stated by Barck, the US special envoy.
Tom Barrack appealed to the parties involved: “We call Drudos, Bedouins and Sunni to testify their weapons and, together with other minorities, build a new and united Syrian identity in peace and prosperity with their neighbors”.
