Syrian President: Israeli intervention has pushed the country into a dangerous phase

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa described the recent events in Sweida province as a "dangerous turning point," noting that "the violent clashes between these groups could have spiraled out of control had it not been for the Syrian state's intervention to calm the situation."

This came in a televised address on Saturday, following the Syrian presidency's announcement of a "comprehensive and immediate ceasefire" across all areas of the country, including Sweida.

SANA quoted al-Sharaa as saying, "The Syrian state was able to calm the situation despite its difficulty, but the Israeli intervention pushed the country into a dangerous phase that threatens its stability as a result of the blatant bombing of the south and government institutions in Damascus. Following these events, American and Arab mediations intervened in an attempt to calm the situation."

He added, "With the state's withdrawal from some areas, armed groups from Sweida began launching revenge attacks against Bedouins and their families. These revenge attacks, accompanied by human rights violations, prompted other tribes to flock to lift the siege on the Bedouins inside Sweida."

He pointed out that "the state stood by Sweida after Syria's liberation and was keen to support it, but some have abused the city and its role in national stability," stressing that "seeking external support and some internal parties using Sweida as a tool in international conflicts is not in the interest of Syrians, but rather exacerbates the crisis."

Al-Sharaa stated that "the Syrian state is committed to protecting all minorities and sects in the country and will continue to hold all violators accountable."

He said, "We disavow all crimes and violations that occurred, whether inside or outside Sweida, and we stress the importance of achieving justice and enforcing the law."

He pointed out that "in these sensitive circumstances, there is an urgent need to give precedence to the voice of reason and wisdom and to open the way for rational and wise people," noting that "the facts confirm that Syria is not a testing ground for projects of partition, separation, or sectarian incitement."

Al-Sharaa stressed that "the strength of the Syrian state stems from the cohesion of its people, the strength of its regional and international relations, and the interconnectedness of its interests within the nation."

The Syrian president described the tribes in Sweida as having always been a "bulwark against internal and external threats," and that the Druze community is "an essential component of the Syrian community, and their exclusion is a direct threat to Syria's stability."