Syria announces plan with Jordan, US to restore calm in Druze-majority Sweida

Jordan’s Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi visited Syria today, Tuesday, as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis in southern Syria.

Safadi held a trilateral meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and US Special Envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack.

At a press conference afterwards, Safadi said Jordan is cooperating with Syria to ensure its security and stability, noting that "southern Syria is an extension of Jordan's security," and that "Syria's security and stability are part of Jordan's security."

Safadi also reaffirmed Jordan's "firm position supporting the unity of Syria's land."

He said that his country "condemns Israeli attacks in Syria and rejects its seditious meddling there,” adding that ‘Israel’ is “the only party working to divide Syria”.

Roadmap for Sweida

For his part, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani addressed the events in the Sweida governorate, stating that the tragedy had "left its mark on the heart of every Syrian home," and stressed that "the Syrian pain is one."

He announced a plan backed by Jordan and the United States to restore calm to Druze-majority Sweida province, which witnessed deadly violence in July.

"The Syrian government has laid out a clear roadmap for action... that supports justice and builds trust," Shaibani said in the press conference, adding that the plan involves "holding accountable" those who attacked civilians, "compensating those affected", and "launching a process of internal reconciliation".

Jordanian foreign minister Ayman Safadi, present at the event with US envoy Tom Barrack, said a "joint Syrian-Jordanian-American mechanism" would ensure the plan's implementation.

The talks are a continuation of previous meetings hosted in Amman on July 19 and Aug. 12, which aimed for a ceasefire in Sweida and to find a solution to the crisis.

Background 

The Druze-majority Sweida province witnessed deadly sectarian violence in July.

The situation in the province has been tense since the clashes, which the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said killed more than 2,000 people.

The implementation will be accompanied by a United Nations investigation into the violence, according to Shaibani.

The bloodshed erupted on July 13 with clashes between Druze fighters and Bedouin but rapidly escalated, drawing in government forces and tribal fighters from other parts of Syria.

Earlier in the day, Syrian authorities announced the creation of a new internal security chief position for Sweida city, naming a member of the Druze community to the post.