The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a declaration that it “condemns the incursion of Israeli occupation forces and their arrest campaigns against civilians in the town of Sweisa in Quneitra countryside, and their announcement to continue illegal presence at Mount Hermon summit and the buffer zone.” The statement added that “these aggressive practices represent a blatant violation of the United Nations Charter, international law, and relevant Security Council resolutions, constituting a direct threat to peace and security in the region.” The Syrian Foreign Ministry reiterated its “demand for the international community, particularly the Security Council, to urgently act to put an end to these ongoing violations.” Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz stated that “the Israeli army will remain at Mount Hermon summit.” Katz clarified in his remarks that “the army’s presence there is for protection from threats from the Syrian side,” affirming that “Israel will continue to protect the Druze in Syria.” Earlier today, Syrian media announced “in the atmosphere of Quneitra province.” Syrian media stated that “Israeli forces carried out an incursion in the town of Sweisa in Quneitra and stormed civilian homes,” noting that they carried out “a campaign of arrests in the town of Sweisa in southern Syria.” Hikmat al-Hijri, one of the spiritual leaders of the Druze community in the Suwayda province, appealed on Monday. In a speech during his reception of the new leader of the ‘Men of Dignity Movement,’ Mazid Khadaj, he appealed to “the honorable people of the world and free countries to stand with the Druze community to declare a separate region forever.” He also considered that the recently formed “National Guard” from armed Druze groups “will defend the land with the guarantee of countries concerned with this matter,” as he put it. Furthermore, he pointed out that “the recent ordeal was intended to exterminate the Druze community,” according to his claim. These statements came days after the official meeting between the U.S. Special Envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, and the Druze spiritual leader in Israel, Mowafaq Tarif, in Paris, where they discussed the situation in Suwayda. Suwayda witnessed clashes and confrontations lasting a week starting July 13 between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribes, prompting government security forces to intervene and stop the confrontations between the sides, while approximately 200,000 were displaced due to the conflict, according to United Nations estimates. The Syrian interim government announced the formation of an investigation committee to look into “the violations committed by armed groups and some government elements,” pledging to hold the responsible parties accountable and bring them to specialized courts as soon as the investigations conclude. On July 19, a comprehensive and immediate ceasefire was announced in Suwayda, calling on all parties, without exception, to “fully adhere to this decision and cease all combat operations immediately in all areas, ensuring the protection of civilians and the unobstructed delivery of humanitarian aid.”
