US envoy calls on warring parties in Syria to lay down arms

US Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack called on all parties in Syria to "lay down their weapons, end hostilities, and abandon the cycle of tribal revenge."
In a post on the X platform on Sunday, Barak explained that the international community stood with the new Syrian government formed following the overthrow of the Assad regime.
He added that the international community "is watching with cautious optimism the Syrian government's efforts to transition from a painful legacy to a brighter future."
Barak pointed out that the clashes between the warring parties on the ground (in Sweida Governorate) have led to "weakening the government's authority and disrupting the regime."
He stressed that "Syria is going through a critical phase where peace and dialogue must prevail, and this must happen now."
On July 13, limited armed clashes erupted between Bedouin tribes and Druze groups in Sweida. Government forces then moved into the area to impose security, but were attacked by outlawed Druze groups, resulting in the deaths of dozens of soldiers.
As part of its efforts to contain the crisis, the Syrian government announced four ceasefire agreements in Sweida, the latest of which was announced on Saturday morning.
The first three ceasefire agreements did not hold for long, as clashes resumed on Friday after a group affiliated with Hikmat al-Hajri, a Druze sheikh in Sweida, displaced a number of Sunni Bedouin tribesmen and perpetrated abuses against them.
On Saturday, the Syrian presidency announced an "immediate and comprehensive ceasefire" in Sweida, warning in a statement that any violation of this resolution constitutes a "blatant violation of national sovereignty and will be met with the necessary legal measures in accordance with the constitution and applicable laws."