Syrian government claims ‘all tribal fighters’ evacuated from Suweida, ‘clashes halted’ following ceasefire declaration

After Israel and Syria agreed to a ceasefire over fighting in the southern Syrian province of Suwayda (Suweida), the Syrian government announced that all “tribal fighters” had been evacuated from the city. 

“After intensive efforts by the Ministry of Interior to implement the ceasefire agreement, following the deployment of its forces in the northern and western regions of Sweida Governorate, the city of Sweida was evacuated of all tribal fighters, and clashes within the city’s neighborhoods were halted,” Interior Ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba said in a post on Telegram. 

The announcement came after fighting continued in Suwayda following the declaration of a ceasefire, as Bedouin groups and other Islamic militias continued attacking Druze in the city. 

The Syrian government deployed security forces to the area in an attempt to prevent further fighting in the Druze majority city, which has seen clashes between Druze forces and various Sunni Muslim militias, including groups composed of Bedouin tribes, as well as groups of militias considered part of the Syrian security apparatus. 

Last week, Israel struck several convoys of government fighters headed towards Suweida, and even struck the General Staff compound of the Syrian military and the presidential palace in Damascus in an attempt to prevent government forces from taking part in the massacres in Suwayda. 

Syrian Interior Ministry spokesman al-Baba visited the region on Sunday morning, where he said the government was overseeing the withdrawal of “all the clans” from the city, along with the entry of humanitarian aid. 

“The Internal Security, in accordance with the instructions of the Presidency of the Republic and the agreement that was signed, is deployed within the Suweida Governorate in order to supervise the withdrawal of all the clans, whom we thank for their heroic response in confronting the outlawed gangs and in securing the kidnapped and detained civilians within the Suweida Governorate,” al-Baba told the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA). “The goal of this deployment is to secure humanitarian aid into Suweida and secure those who want to leave the governorate. It is a first step to restore security, restore the rule of law, and spread the official, legitimate state institutions within the governorate.” 

The Israeli Health Ministry announced on Saturday that it is preparing to send humanitarian aid, including medical equipment and medicines to Suwayda. The ministry said the delivery would take place once it had secured proper authorizations. 

“Our brotherhood with the Druze community is well known, but beyond that, we are committed to a ‘covenant of life.’ We cannot stand idly by when members of the community – inside or outside Israel – are in danger,” Health Minister Uriel Buso said. 

Meanwhile, as reports of continued fighting came out on Saturday, despite the agreement of a ceasefire, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the Syrian government “must help end this calamity by using their security forces to prevent ISIS and any other violent jihadists from entering the area and carrying out massacres.” 

The U.S. has remained heavily involved over the last three days with Israel, Jordan and authorities in Damascus on the horrifying & dangerous developments in southern Syria.

The rape and slaughter of innocent people which has and is still occuring must end.

If authorities in…

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) July 20, 2025

Rubio also said the Syrian government “must hold accountable and bring to justice anyone guilty of atrocities including those in their own ranks.” 

The statement by Rubio, posted to his personal 𝕏 account and not his official one, appeared to be the first recognition by a high-ranking U.S. official that government forces were involved in the massacres of Druze civilians in Suweida.