Syria, Israeli occupation agree to US-mediated deal on Sweida: SOHR
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Syrian authorities and the Israeli occupation reach a US-mediated agreement to de-escalate tensions in Sweida, transferring security oversight to Washington and disarming southern regions.
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A Bedouin fighter takes a selfie in front of a United Nations vehicle as a convoy of ambulances and buses arrives at a checkpoint in the village of Busra al-Harir, southern Syria, on its way to Sweida governorate, as security forces cordon off the area to block Bedouin fighters from entering the area, on July 22, 2025. (AP)
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has revealed the terms of a newly brokered agreement between the Israeli occupation and Syria’s transitional government, with direct US mediation aimed at de-escalating the ongoing crisis in southern Syria.
The deal stipulates that security control in Sweida will be transferred to US authorities, who will oversee the implementation of the agreement’s provisions. Among the key terms is the full withdrawal of Syrian tribal forces and the Internal Security Forces beyond the Druze-populated areas. Druze factions are expected to sweep these areas to confirm their evacuation.
Local councils comprised of Sweida residents will assume administrative responsibilities and provide services. Additionally, a new monitoring committee will be established to document violations and submit reports to the American side.
The agreement also includes a disarmament process in the governorates of Quneitra and Daraa. Armed groups in these regions will be replaced by local security committees drawn from residents, who will operate unarmed.
As part of the deal, all Syrian government-affiliated organizations and institutions will be barred from operating in Sweida. Only UN-affiliated bodies will be granted access.
Read more: Sweida clashes death toll hits 1,339 amid fragile Syria truce
Israeli-Syrian meeting in Paris marks highest-level contact in decades
In a parallel diplomatic development, senior Syrian and Israeli officials held direct talks in Paris, mediated by Tom Barrack, the special envoy of US President Donald Trump. According to Axios, the meeting lasted four hours and focused on avenues to reduce tensions along the southern front.
This marks the highest-level public engagement between the two parties in over 25 years. The Israeli delegation was led by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, while Syria was represented by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, according to reports from The Times of Israel.
The Paris meeting follows a sweeping Israeli military campaign in Syria carried out under the pretext of “protecting the Druze community.” That campaign came in response to a large-scale offensive launched by government-aligned forces in Sweida, which reportedly left over 1,300 people dead and imposed severe humanitarian conditions on the governorate. Armed factions loyal to the transitional government have maintained a siege on Sweida, exacerbating the crisis.
Read more: Deadly explosion rocks Idlib countryside, over 100 civilian casualties
Miscommunication triggers escalation
According to diplomatic sources cited by Reuters, the Syrian government misread regional signals and believed it had received an implicit green light from the United States and the Israeli occupation to proceed with its military actions in Sweida. This misunderstanding reportedly triggered the latest escalation and prompted direct intervention from Washington to contain the fallout.
The Trump administration hopes the new agreement will stabilize the southern region and restore a semblance of calm between Damascus and Tel Aviv.
Read more: Druze community gathers outside White House over Sweida violence
