More than 200 killed in Sweida: renewed Israeli raids and martyrs among Syrian security forces.

More than 200 people have been killed in armed clashes in the southern Syrian province of Sweida since Sunday morning, including members of the security forces killed in Israeli airstrikes. The Israeli military announced that it had attacked Syrian security forces' military vehicles in Sweida, including tanks and armored personnel carriers, "under the direction of the political echelon."

Syrian media reported after midnight Tuesday-Wednesday that Israeli aircraft targeted the 52nd Brigade east of Daraa, the vicinity of Tha'la Airport in the Sweida countryside, and other sites in the governorate. The media also reported that Syrian security forces were killed as a result of the Israeli raids.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Israeli warplanes launched airstrikes on the Tha'la and Shaqrawiya roads in the Suwayda countryside, and the 52nd Brigade base in the Harak district in the Daraa countryside. The airstrikes directly targeted positions housing Syrian Ministry of Defense forces, resulting in casualties.

According to the latest figures announced by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the death toll from clashes in Sweida has risen to 203, including 71 from the province itself, including four children and two women, 93 from the Ministry of Defense and Public Security, and 18 from Bedouin tribes.

Dozens of residents of the occupied Syrian Golan Heights crossed into Syrian territory, while the Israeli army announced it was working to return them.

Clashes continue in some neighborhoods of the city of Sweida, amid intensive efforts by the government, in coordination with local notables and dignitaries, to regain full control and impose lasting security and stability, according to the Syrian Ministry of Interior on Tuesday evening.

The Syrian Interior Ministry stated that "armed groups outside the law violated the understandings and launched treacherous attacks on police and security personnel. The Israeli occupation forces launched airstrikes in support of these groups and targeted the deployment sites of our forces."

Netanyahu: "We are committed to maintaining southwestern Syria as a demilitarized zone and will not allow the establishment of a second Lebanon."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Israeli attacks on southern Syria, saying, "We are committed to maintaining southwestern Syria as a demilitarized zone in Israel. We will not allow a return to a situation in which Lebanon is established again. We are also committed to protecting the Druze."

"We are working on this through strong and intensive operations, and I hope we won't have to work any further. This depends largely on what those in Damascus understand or don't do," he added.

Against the backdrop of escalating Israeli aggression against Syria, the Israeli government appointed Minister Avi Dichter as Deputy Minister of Defense. Dichter is visiting the United States today.

Syrian Foreign Ministry: "The aggression came in a suspicious context aimed at destabilizing and undermining territorial integrity." The Syrian Presidency urges all parties to abide by the prohibition of violations.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned the Israeli aggression on its territory, stating that "the attacks resulted in the martyrdom of members of the army, security forces, and civilians. This act is a flagrant violation of Syrian sovereignty and a breach of the principles of international law and the United Nations."

She stated that "the aggression came within a suspicious context aimed at destabilizing and undermining the territorial integrity of Syria. We call on the United Nations, the Security Council, and the international community to fulfill their responsibilities and condemn this aggression."

The Syrian Foreign Ministry stated, "We affirm our commitment to our inalienable right to defend our lands by all means guaranteed by international law. We are committed to protecting all Syrians without exception, especially the Druze community. We call on our people in Sweida to stand united behind the state and the army and to refuse to be drawn into any suspicious schemes."

The Syrian presidency issued a statement saying, "Based on the state's commitment to preserving rights, stopping bloodshed, upholding the rule of law, and ensuring the regular functioning of its institutions, the presidency of the Syrian Arab Republic affirms the necessity of all public and private entities, both civil and military, committing to preventing any form of transgression or violation under any pretext."

It also announced that the competent regulatory and executive authorities have been instructed to take immediate legal action against anyone proven to have transgressed or abused, regardless of their rank or position, according to its statement.

US envoy to Syria: We seek a peaceful solution that takes into account the Druze, the tribes, the Syrian government, and Israel.

US Special Envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, said, "The recent clashes in Sweida are of concern to all parties. We are engaging in direct and constructive discussions with all parties to move toward calm and integration."

"We seek to reach a peaceful and comprehensive solution for the Druze, the Bedouin tribes, the Syrian government, and Israel," he added.

The Israeli army announces the start of targeting Syrian security forces.

The Israeli occupation army announced in a statement that it "began, under the direction of the political leadership, a short time ago, to attack military vehicles belonging to the Syrian regime forces in Sweida, southern Syria."

He added that this "came after convoys of armored personnel carriers and Syrian regime tanks were spotted, beginning Monday evening, heading toward Sweida, in southern Syria."

He stated that "following this, the Israeli army attacked a number of armored vehicles, including tanks, armored personnel carriers, and radio-guided vehicles, as well as access roads, with the aim of obstructing their access to the area."

He stressed that he "continues to monitor developments, with 'defensive' readiness, and with preparedness for various scenarios."

Netanyahu and Katz: We ordered an attack on Syrian regime forces.

Netanyahu and Katz issued a joint statement saying they had "instructed the Israeli military to immediately attack regime forces and weapons brought into the Sweida region... in Syria, in response to their activities against the Druze. This is contrary to the demilitarization policy they had decided to follow, which is to refrain from bringing forces and weapons into southern Syria that would endanger Israel."

The statement added that Israel "is committed to preventing any harm to the Druze in Syria, based on the deep alliance with our Druze citizens in Israel and their family and historical ties with them. We are working to prevent the Syrian regime from harming them and to ensure the demilitarization of the area adjacent to our border with Syria," they claimed.

Syrian Defense Minister announces complete ceasefire

Syrian Defense Minister Marhaf Abu Qasra announced a ceasefire in Sweida, southern Syria, following an agreement with the city's notables and dignitaries. The ceasefire came just hours after Sweida's Internal Security Chief, Ahmed al-Dalati, announced a curfew in the province, effective Tuesday morning "until further notice." Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation army shelled a tank in the area.

This came in statements carried by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) following clashes between armed groups in Sweida, which resulted in more than 90 deaths and dozens of injuries. This prompted the intervention of security forces and the army, who used force to enforce the law.

Israeli Army Radio quoted a security source as saying: The attacks in Sweida are "particularly large-scale against Syrian regime forces."

SANA reported that "the Syrian army has begun withdrawing heavy machinery from Sweida, in preparation for handing over the city's neighborhoods to the Internal Security Forces."

The Syrian Defense Minister said, "We are announcing a complete ceasefire in Sweida, following an agreement with the city's notables and dignitaries." He added, "We have issued strict instructions to the forces in Sweida to protect residents and property and maintain community peace."

He continued, "We will hand over the neighborhoods of Sweida to the Internal Security Forces after a sweep to control the chaos and restore stability to the residents."

The Syrian Defense Minister stated, "We have ordered the deployment of military police in Sweida to control behavior and hold violators accountable."

"We announce a curfew on the city's streets, starting at 8:00 a.m. until further notice, to ensure the safety of our people" in Sweida, Al-Dalati said.

He added that forces from the Ministries of Interior and Defense will begin entering the Sweida Center to protect civilians and restore security following the bloody events that took place in the city.

He continued, "We hold the religious authorities and the leaders of the armed factions responsible for their national and humanitarian efforts, and we call on them to fully cooperate with us to secure the city center and ensure the stability of the entire province."

In this context, SANA quoted the Defense Ministry's Media and Communications Department as saying that "army forces are continuing to pursue outlaw groups around Sweida."

The ministry urged residents of Sweida to stay indoors and "report any movements by outlaw groups that may resort to using civilian neighborhoods as a launching pad for their operations."

Syrian Defense: The army has begun entering the center of Sweida.

The Syrian Ministry of Defense announced on Tuesday that the army had begun entering the center of the southern province of Sweida to establish control and pursue "outlaws."

The ministry's media and communications department told Anadolu Agency that "the army will work to extend control, end the chaos in Sweida, and pursue those who break the law."

She continued: "The army has begun entering the center of Sweida."

The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) quoted the Defense Ministry's Media and Communications Department on Tuesday morning as saying that "army forces are continuing to pursue outlaw groups around Sweida."

The ministry urged residents of Sweida to stay indoors and "report any movements by outlaw groups that may resort to using civilian neighborhoods as a launching pad for their operations."

"Druze in Syria" calls for cooperation with government forces... Al-Hajri: Welcoming imposed on us

The spiritual leadership of the Druze community in Syria welcomed the entry of Interior and Defense Ministry forces into the southern province of Sweida on Tuesday to secure it and establish security. The leadership called on all factions in the province to cooperate with government forces and surrender their weapons.

This came in a statement coinciding with the entry of government forces into the city of Sweida, the provincial capital, to restore security following bloody clashes that erupted on Sunday between armed Druze and Bedouin groups.

The spiritual leadership of the Druze community said, "We welcome the entry of Interior and Defense Ministry forces into Sweida to establish control over security and military centers and secure the province."

She added, "We call on all armed factions in Sweida province to cooperate with government forces, not resist their entry, and surrender their weapons."

The spiritual leadership of the community called for "opening a dialogue with the government to address the repercussions of the events in Sweida."

She also called for "activating state institutions in Sweida in cooperation with the governorate's cadres and talents in various fields."

The "spiritual leadership" represents the highest religious authority for the Druze community in Syria. However, there are three Druze sheikhs (religious leaders) whose positions may sometimes differ. They are Hikmat al-Hijri, Hamoud al-Hanawi, and Youssef al-Jarbou'.

Hikmat al-Hijri, a Druze religious authority, said, "The statement welcoming the army's entry into Sweida was imposed on us by Damascus and under external pressure."

He added, "We are facing a comprehensive war of extermination, and everyone who said, 'Oh, jealousy of religion,' must stand up with dignity, a stance that will be recorded in history and will not be repeated. We have betrayed you, people of chivalry, from everywhere and from all countries."