Israeli forces have launched a series of air strikes on the southern Syrian city of Suwayda, hours after the Syrian government declared a ceasefire in the region. The strikes mark a dramatic escalation in the volatile area, which has been gripped by deadly fighting between Bedouin tribes and local Druze fighters since Sunday.

In a statement on Tuesday, Syria’s Ministry of Interior accused armed groups of resuming attacks on government forces with direct support from the Israeli Air Force. The government condemned Israel’s intervention, calling it a violation of international law.

The situation quickly deteriorated after influential Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri denounced the Syrian military’s earlier actions as a breach of the announced truce. Al-Hajri called on local fighters to resist what he described as a “barbaric attack” from government troops.

Israel, for its part, has claimed its military intervention is aimed at protecting the Druze minority, who it views as potential regional allies. Israeli Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli defended the air strikes in a statement posted on social media.

“We see massacres and insults against the Druze, and we must fight against the terrorism regime in Syria,” Chikli wrote. “It is a grave mistake to acknowledge Ahmed al-Sharaa as the legitimate leader of Syria.”

It was also reported from Damascus that the situation in Suwayda has “further escalated, with multiple Israeli drone and air strikes they claim are in support of Druze fighters.”

The Syrian Defence Ministry had earlier announced a complete ceasefire in Suwayda in an effort to halt the escalating violence. Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra posted the order online, instructing all military units in the region to stand down. But by Tuesday afternoon, renewed fighting and Israeli air raids had rendered the truce ineffective.

More than 30 people have been killed and over 100 injured since clashes erupted between Bedouin and Druze armed groups. The two factions have a history of tensions in Suwayda, which is home to Syria’s largest Druze population.

The Druze, a minority sect with about 700,000 adherents in Syria, primarily reside in the Suwayda province and suburbs south of Damascus. Their precarious position has become more fragile since the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad in December, as the new Syrian authorities struggle to maintain stability and guarantee minority rights.

The United States has expressed concern over the deteriorating situation. U.S. envoy to Syria Tom Barrack said Washington was in contact with all sides “to navigate towards calm and integration.”

This is not Israel’s first intervention in the region. Since December 2024, the Israeli military has conducted hundreds of air strikes on targets in Syria, averaging one every three to four days. Israel claims the operations are designed to prevent Iranian-aligned forces and hostile groups from gaining ground near its borders.

The latest Suwayda strikes come amid broader regional military operations by Israel, which is also engaged in an ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. Since October 2023, Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed more than 58,479 Palestinians, according to local authorities. Israel has also launched attacks on the West Bank, Lebanon, Yemen, and Iran in recent months.

Chioma Kalu

Follow us on: