Israel and Syria agreed to a ceasefire after days of conflict and Israeli airstrikes in southern Syria and Damascus, U.S. special envoy for Syria and Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack said on Friday night.

“BREAKTHROUGH —— Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Syrian President Al-Sharaa, supported by US Secretary of State Rubio have agreed to a ceasefire embraced by Türkiye, Jordan and its neighbors”, Barrack wrote on X.

“We call upon Druze, Bedouins, and Sunnis to put down their weapons and together with other minorities build a new and united Syrian identity in peace and prosperity with its neighbors.”

“Thankful to all sides for their break from chaos and confusion as we attempt to navigate all parties to a more durable and peaceful solution in Syria.”

Syrian regime forces withdrew from Sweida on Thursday, but clashes resumed on Friday prior to Barrack’s announcement, spurring the Syrian government to announce it will resend forces to the area.

On Saturday, Al-Sharaa’s office announced an “immediate ceasefire” in Sweida. However, heavy clashes between Bedouins and Druze continued in the Druze city, with the death toll reaching 940 and additional footage appearing on social media of Bedouins abusing the Druze, including executions and forcibly shaving elderly Druze sheikhs in public and other shocking acts of abuse and torture.

Al-Shaara later made a speech claiming that Syria is committed to protecting all minorities in the country. “We condemn all crimes committed in Sweida,” he said.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar responded with scorn to Al-Sharaa’s statements, writing on X on Motzei Shabbos: “The speech of Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara was a display of support for the jihadist attackers (in al-Sharaa’s words: ‘The Bedouin tribes as a symbol of noble values and principles’) and blaming the victims (the attacked Druze minority). Al-Shara spiced all this with conspiracy theories and accusations against Israel.”

“Bottom line: In al-Shara’s Syria, it is very dangerous to be a member of a minority—Kurd, Druze, Alawite, or Christian. This has been proven time and again over the past six months.”

“The international community has a duty to ensure the security and rights of the minorities in Syria and to condition Syria’s renewed acceptance into the family of nations on their protection.”

(YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)