Description: After the deadly sectarian clashes between the Druze and the Bedouins in the south Syrian province of Suwayda, the Syrian Defense Minister, Murhaf Abu Qasra, announced that a permanent ceasefire has been established, following negotiations with local leaders. The violence erupted after a reciprocal series of kidnappings between the Druze and the Bedouins with the Syrian military intervening on behalf of the Bedouins, while Israel has effectively supported the Druze, bombarding Bedouin and government targets within Suwayda. The Druze spiritual leader, Hikmat al – Hijri, renounced the ceasefire proposal and called on Druze forces in Suwayda to continue resisting the pressure imposed by the Syrian government. The ceasefire arrives two days after the deadly clashes between the Druze and the Bedouins which reportedly left more than 100 people dead, majority of whom were civilian casualties.
Impact: The unilateral imposition of ceasefire by the Syrian government would have a limited impact on events on the ground, as the country has been plagued by sectarian violence ever since Hayat Tahrir al – Sham (HTS) assumed the governing position. The country is largely divided on ethnic and religious basis with numerous militant organizations still destabilizing large regions and preventing the Syrian government from consolidating power and establishing control. Foreign interference also represents an influential factor, as countries such as the US, Turkey, Israel, Saudi Arabia are aiming at establishing a foothold within Syria’s transitional government. The fragile ceasefire is under constant threat of faltering as multiple armed groups are forwarding regional and global geopolitical interests of foreign state actors.