Middle East: Syrian military declares ceasefire in Sweida

The United States is "actively involved with all constituencies in Syria" in an effort to reach calm and productive discussions, Washington's special envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, said on Tuesday.

"The recent skirmishes in Sweida are worrisome on all sides, and we are attempting to come to a peaceful, inclusive outcome for Druze, Bedouin tribes, the Syrian government and Israeli forces," Barrack wrote in a statement on X.

He listed "misdirection, confusion and inefficient communication" as the greatest challenges to integrating each party's interests.

"We are in direct, active and productive discussions with all sides to navigate toward calm and integration," Barrack added.

Syria's Foreign Ministry condemned on Tuesday what it described as Israeli "aggression" in Syria's south, following Israeli strikes in the backdrop of sectarian clashes in the southern city of Sweida.

"This criminal act constitutes a blatant violation of the sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic, a flagrant breach of the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations, and a reprehensible example of ongoing aggression and external interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states," the Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry stressed it "holds the Israeli side fully responsible for this aggression and its consequences," adding that it left a number of military and security personnel killed.

Damascus stressed "its commitment to protecting all of its citizens without exception, foremost amongst them our brethren from the Druze community."

The clashes come amid growing concerns for Syrian minorities' rights under the leadership of its Islamist interim government.

The Israeli strikes, which it justified as an attempt to protect the Druze community, come as Israel tries to broker a normalization deal with Damascus.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Israel launched military strikes in southern Syria to protect the Druze community.

The Israeli military said it targeted Syrian military vehicles and access roads to disrupt a convoy. The strikes followed the deployment of Syrian government forces in Sweida, a city with a majority Druze population.

The government's intervention was prompted by deadly clashes between Druze residents and Sunni Bedouins.

In a joint statement, Netanyahu and Katz stated that they took action to prevent the Syrian leadership from harming the Druze and to ensure the demilitarization of the area near Israel's border.

The Druze are a religious minority found across the region. In Israel, they are often viewed as a loyal minority and frequently serve in the armed forces.

Lebanese state media reported that Israeli strikes on the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon killed 12 people.

According to Lebanon's National News Agency, "enemy warplanes launched raids on the Wadi Fara area in the northern Bekaa Valley, one of which targeted a camp for displaced Syrians."

The agency reported "the deaths of 12 martyrs, including seven Syrians, and eight wounded."

Meanwhile, the Israeli army said it had hit targets belonging to Hezbollah's elite Radwan force in the area.

The targets included training facilities used to "plan and carry out terrorist attacks against Israeli troops and the State of Israel," the military's statement added.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the latest strikes were "a clear message" to Iran-backed Hezbollah and the Lebanese government "which is responsible for upholding the agreement."

Israel has repeatedly bombed Lebanon despite the November ceasefire intended to end more than a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. 

Foreign ministers from the EU's 27 member nations are meeting in Brussels following a new deal with Israel to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.

On Monday, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar met with EU leaders after agreeing to allow food and fuel into the besieged coastal enclave.

The details of the agreement are still unclear, but EU officials have rejected cooperating with the Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Fund due to ethical and safety concerns.

The priority is opening more border crossings and allowing more aid trucks into Gaza, but officials say they eventually want to set up a monitoring station at the Kerem Shalom crossing.

According to Kaja Kallas, the bloc's foreign policy chief, the European Union is seeking updates from Israel on the implementation of the new deal.

Meanwhile, Kallas proposed ten potential steps after Israel was found to have violated a cooperation agreement between Israel and the EU due to human rights violations.

The measures range from suspending the entire agreement to curbing trade ties, sanctioning Israeli ministers, imposing an arms embargo and halting visa-free travel.

Despite growing anger over the devastation in Gaza, EU states remain divided on how to address Israel, and diplomats say there is not enough support for any action.

Syria's Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra announced a ceasefire shortly after government forces entered the predominantly Druze city of Sweida.

In a statement, he said that after an agreement with the city's "notables and dignitaries, we will respond only to the sources of fire and deal with any targeting by outlaw groups."

The government intervened due to deadly clashes between Druze and Sunni Bedouin residents.

The latest sectarian violence in Syria began with tit-for-tat abductions and attacks between members of local Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze armed groups.

On Monday, Syrian government security forces, sent to restore order, clashed with Druze armed groups.

According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, more than 100 people have been killed in the fighting since Sunday.

Welcome to DW's coverage on the latest developments in the Middle East. 

We begin with the escalation in southern Syria where — following clashes between Druze and Sunni Bedouin groups — Syrian government troops entered Sweida, a predominantly Druze city. This prompted Israeli airstrikes.

Meanwhile, foreign ministers from the EU's 27 member nations are meeting in Brussels to discuss a deal with Israel that would increase aid to Gaza.

Stay with us for more news and analysis.