Syria President Sharaa renews pledge to “protect minorities” after Sweida clashes end

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Saturday affirmed the country’s commitment to "protecting minorities" and holding all "violators accountable, regardless of their affiliation," following a week of violence in the Druze-majority province of Sweida that killed more than 700 people.

"The Syrian state is committed to protecting all minorities and sects in the country and is proceeding with holding all violators accountable from any party whatsoever," al-Sharaa said in a televised address after the ceasefire in Sweida.

He added, "No one will escape accountability, and we disown all crimes and transgressions that occurred... We emphasize the importance of achieving justice and enforcing the law on everyone."

Al-Sharaa's remarks came after the Syrian presidency declared an "immediate" ceasefire, coinciding with the deployment of security forces in Sweida province to "stop the chaos."

Hours earlier, Washington had announced a ceasefire agreement between Syria and “Israel” following “Israeli” airstrikes targeting official headquarters and government forces in Damascus and Sweida.

The US envoy to Damascus, Tom Barak, had urged "Druze, Bedouins, and Sunnis to lay down their arms."

In his speech broadcast on state television, al-Sharaa commended "the great role played by the United States of America in affirming its stand with Syria in these difficult circumstances and its keenness on the country's stability," praising the efforts of Arab nations, Turkey, and other parties.

Al-Sharaa stated that the “Israeli” strikes, amidst clashes between Druze gunmen and Bedouin tribesmen, pushed Syria "to a dangerous stage that threatens its stability, as a result of the blatant bombardment of the South and government institutions in Damascus."

Al-Sharaa criticized in his speech the "narrow interests of some individuals in Sweida," considering that "seeking strength from abroad and some internal parties using Sweida as a tool in international conflicts does not serve the interests of Syrians but rather exacerbates the crisis and threatens the country's unity."

He also criticized the actions of "some groups" from the tribes who "tried to defend themselves unilaterally," stressing that these "actions cannot be a substitute for the role" of the state, which is "alone capable of preserving its prestige and sovereignty in every part of Syrian territory."

Al-Sharaa called on all Syrians for "unity and full cooperation to overcome what we are all going through and preserve our country and land from external interventions or internal strife."

The recent violence undermines al-Sharaa's efforts to extend his authority over all Syrian territory more than seven months after the overthrow of the previous Assad regime.