Israel says it will ‘allow’ Syrian forces to enter own city amid ongoing conflict

WorldPolitics
18 Jul 2025 • 7:24 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

image is not available

  • Israel says it will “allow” Syrian security forces to enter the Sweida district of southern Syria for 48 hours due to ongoing instability.
  • A Syrian interior ministry spokesperson initially stated forces were preparing to re-enter Sweida to quell renewed fighting, but another spokesperson later denied any government deployment.
  • The potential deployment follows a fragile truce that briefly halted bloody clashes between Bedouin and Druze fighters, which reignited after Syrian government forces previously sided with the Bedouins.
  • Israel, which had earlier warned against Syrian government troop deployment, has conducted strikes against Syrian forces in Sweida and Damascus, vowing to protect the Druze community.
  • The United States, which helped secure the earlier truce, has expressed disagreement with recent Israeli strikes, while Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa accused Israel of attempting to fracture Syria.

IN FULL