Syria and Israel Agree to Ceasefire, Hostage Exchange Underway
Teh United States special envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, announced on X that a complete exchange of hostages and prisoners is the next step towards a enduring de-escalation in the region, with logistics currently in progress. This announcement follows a ceasefire brokered by Washington between Syria and Israel, aimed at protecting the Druze population.
The agreement permits the deployment of Syrian government forces into the province,excluding the city of Soueida,a move Israel had previously opposed. Earlier in the week, Israel had conducted airstrikes on government positions in Soueida and Damascus, reportedly to compel the withdrawal of Syrian forces from the area.The recent surge in violence has resulted in over 1,100 fatalities in the past week, according to the Syrian Observatory for human Rights (OSDH). This toll includes 427 fighters and 298 Druze civilians,with 194 of them allegedly executed by members of the Ministries of Defense and Interior. On the opposing side, 354 members of government forces and 21 Sunni Bedouins were killed. The OSDH also reported that fifteen government force members died in Israeli strikes.
The International Institution for migration estimates that nearly 128,000 people have been displaced due to the ongoing violence.
This escalation follows previous confrontations in April,where clashes between Druze fighters and security forces near Damascus and Soueida led to over 100 deaths. In March, massacres in the western part of the country, primarily affecting the Alawite community, resulted in more than 1,700 deaths, as reported by the OSDH.
The Druze community in Syria, predominantly located in Soueida, numbered around 700,000 before the civil war. This minority group also has a presence in Lebanon and Israel.
