Israel and Syria agree to ceasefire, US ambassador to Turkey says

Israel and Syria agree to ceasefire, US ambassador to Turkey says

On Friday, US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack announced that Syria and Israel had agreed to a ceasefire. Barrack, who also serves as the US special envoy for Syria, said via Service X that the agreement was "supported" by Turkey, Jordan and other neighboring countries.

Appeal to minorities

“We call on Druze, Bedouins and Sunnis to lay down their weapons and join other minorities in building a new, unified Syrian identity in peace and prosperity with their neighbors,” Barrack said. So far, both parties have not immediately commented on the reported agreement.

Israeli air strikes and their consequences

The ceasefire follows Israeli airstrikes on Syria on Wednesday, which Israel described as a protective measure for the Druze, an Arab group religious minority, explained. Since the fall of long-time dictator Bashar al-Assad, there have been clashes between pro-government forces and Druze that have resulted in numerous deaths.

Attacks on government facilities

Israel's airstrikes in Damascus targeted several government buildings, killing at least three people, authorities said. A video from a Syrian television channel showed the hit on the Defense Ministry during the live broadcast, forcing the presenter to take cover.

Withdrawal of the Syrian army

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said on Wednesday evening that the Syrian army had begun withdrawing from Suwayda, where fighting broke out between Druze militias and Bedouin tribes over the weekend. These led to the intervention of government troops. Al-Sharaa's government also announced a new ceasefire with the Druze factions.

Accusations against Israel

In the same televised speech, al-Sharaa accused Israel of seeking to divide the Syrian population and turn Syria "into a battlefield of chaos." The US expressed concern about the increased tensions and took diplomatic steps to resolve the conflict.

US diplomatic efforts

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke by telephone with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Friday to discuss the situation. Rubio had already stated on Wednesday evening that all parties to the conflict had agreed on “concrete steps” to resolve the situation. “This requires everyone involved to honor their commitments, and that is exactly what we expect of them,” Rubio said on X.

Expert opinion on the situation

Amos Yadlin, a former major general and head of Israel's military intelligence, weighed in on CNN's "The Brief with Jim Sciutto" on Friday, saying that involving all players - including Turkey, Israel and Jordan - "makes a lot of sense." “The question is how the local people will behave, whether the retaliation from the two communities will stop,” Yadlin added.

This story has been updated with additional developments. CNN's Katrina Samaan contributed to this report.