Syria declares new Suwayda ceasefire, deploys forces to ‘restore security’

Bedouin fighters ride on a vehicle along a street, as Suwayda province has been engulfed by nearly a week of violence triggered by clashes between Bedouin fighters and factions from the Druze [Karam al-Masri/Reuters]

Syria’s security forces have begun deploying in the restive southern province of Suwayda, a Ministry of Interior spokesperson has said, where heavy fighting between Druze and Bedouin armed groups and government forces has left hundreds dead, compounded by Israeli military intervention.

The deployment on Saturday came hours after the United States announced that Israel and Syria have agreed to a ceasefire, an as yet uncertain truce amidst overnight fighting.