US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack Calls for Ceasefire, Urges All Parties to Lay Down Arms

Kokcha News Agency: Tom Barrack, the US Special Envoy for Syria and Ambassador to Ankara, has issued a strong call for peace in Syria, urging all parties to immediately cease hostilities and lay down their arms. In a statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Barrack emphasized that Syria is at a critical juncture where peace and dialogue must take precedence.

Barrack stated, “All parties must immediately lay down their arms, end hostilities, and abandon the cycle of tribal revenge. Syria is at a crucial turning point where peace and dialogue must prevail, and this must be achieved now.”

The US envoy also highlighted the importance of international support for the newly formed Syrian government, stating that the international community has largely united behind the government as it works to transition from a painful past to a hopeful future. Barrack pointed out that the brutal actions of warring factions on the ground have weakened the government’s authority and disrupted order, leaving its fragile goals overshadowed by a major shock.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also weighed in on the situation in southern Syria, calling on the Syrian government to take responsibility for ending the violence. Rubio stressed that innocent people must be protected from massacres and that the Syrian government must hold accountable those responsible for atrocities, including those within its own ranks.

Rubio stated, “If the authorities in Damascus want to preserve the chance of achieving a unified, inclusive, and peaceful Syria free from ISIS and Iranian influence, they must use their security forces to prevent ISIS and other violent jihadists from entering the region and committing massacres.”

Background on the Conflict in Suwayda
Armed clashes broke out in Suwayda on July 13 between Bedouin Arab tribes and Druze groups. The conflict escalated when Hikmat Hijri, a Druze leader supported by Israel, violated the ceasefire and began forcibly expelling Bedouin Arab families, leading to executions and further violence.

The Syrian government, which had initially withdrawn its forces from Suwayda after agreeing to a ceasefire with local groups, redeployed security forces to the region on July 19 in an effort to restore order. The clashes have resulted in hundreds of deaths, both civilian and combatant, and have caused a humanitarian crisis in the region, with shortages of food, electricity, and water.

While the fighting has largely subsided in recent days, the situation remains tense, with concerns over whether Hikmat Hijri will comply with the ceasefire or continue to provoke violence.