All parties in Syria agreed to 'pause violence,' says US envoy

ISTANBUL

All parties in Syria have agreed to pause violence as of 5 pm Damascus time (1400GMT) Sunday, the US special envoy for Syria announced.

"All parties have navigated to a pause and cessation of hostilities," Tom Barrack wrote on X.

The envoy said containing escalating hostilities requires an agreement to pause violence, protect civilians, allow humanitarian access, and step back from danger.

“The next foundation stone on a path to inclusion, and lasting de-escalation, is a complete exchange of hostages and detainees, the logistics of which are in process,” he said.

On July 13, clashes broke out between Bedouin Arab tribes and armed Druze groups in Suwayda, southern Syria.

Violence escalated and Israeli airstrikes followed, including on Syrian military positions and infrastructure in Damascus. Israel cited the need for protection of Druze communities as a pretext for its attacks.

Most Druze leaders in Syria, however, have publicly rejected any foreign interference and reaffirmed their commitment to a unified Syrian state.

Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime last December, Israel intensified its air campaign in Syria and declared a buffer zone between the two countries defunct, alongside the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.

Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia in December, ending the Baath Party regime, which had been in power since 1963.

A new transitional administration led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa was formed in January.