Syrian presidency accuses Druze fighters of violating ceasefire

The Syrian presidency accused Druze fighters in Sweida of violating the ceasefire that led to the withdrawal of government forces from the southern province on Thursday.

In a statement, the presidency accused “outlaw forces” -- the term the government uses to refer to Druze factions in Sweida -- of violating the agreement by engaging in “horrific violence” against civilians including “crimes that completely contravene the obligations of mediation, directly threaten civil peace, and push towards chaos and security collapse.”

The presidency also warned against “continued blatant Israeli interference in Syria’s internal affairs, which only leads to further chaos and destruction and further complicates the regional situation.”

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Syrian state media reported Israeli strikes near Sweida on Thursday, the first attack on the area after Syrian government forces withdrew following clashes with local fighters.

Syria’s state-run SANA said “Israeli occupation aircraft carried out a raid on the outskirts of Sweida city.”

Syrian forces had withdrawn from Sweida earlier on Thursday after deadly clashes with Druze fighters accompanied by Israeli strikes and diplomatic pressure to retreat from the area.

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