Syrian army withdrawing heavy equipment from As-Suwayda as ceasefire takes effect VIDEO

Syrian army units have begun pulling heavy military equipment out of the city of As-Suwayda, preparing to hand over security responsibilities to the Internal Security Forces, the state-run SANA news agency reports.

The move comes after Syrian Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Kasra announced a ceasefire in the city, following an agreement reached with prominent figures and senior officials from As-Suwayda.

Abu Kasra emphasised that the army would "respond only to sources of fire," warning that any attacks by criminal groups would be firmly dealt with.

The violence in As-Suwayda, a predominantly Druze province in southern Syria, began on July 12, 2025, triggered by the abduction of a Druze merchant on the Damascus-Suwayda highway, escalating into clashes between Druze militias, Bedouin tribes, and government forces.

The July 14–15 clashes killed dozens, with estimates ranging from 30 (Syrian Interior Ministry) to 89 (Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, SOHR), including 18 Syrian troops. The IDF’s strikes on July 14 targeted Syrian tanks advancing toward As-Suwayda, which Israel claimed posed a threat to Druze civilians and violated demilitarisation policies.

By Khagan Isayev