Druze religious leader denies Sweida ceasefire deal

Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, the top spiritual leader of the Druze community in Syria, denied any negotiations or agreement with what he called “armed gangs falsely claiming to be the government.”

His statement comes in response to an announcement by Syria’s Interior Ministry, which earlier said a ceasefire agreement had been reached in Sweida following days of violent clashes in the southern city.

Read more: Ceasefire reached in Syria; Key terms revealed: Interior Ministry

A ministry source told state news agency SANA that the deal includes the deployment of security checkpoints and the full reintegration of Sweida into the Syrian state.

Meanwhile, another prominent Druze leader, Sheikh Youssef Jarboua, confirmed that an agreement was indeed reached with the government after recent violence in Sweida.

He said the deal includes a complete halt to all military operations by all parties and reflects a joint commitment to restoring peace and preserving Syria’s territorial unity.