Post by : Naveen Mittal

Photo: X / MultifaithAid

Syria, Jordan, US launch plan to stabilise Suwayda after deadly clashes

Joint initiative for peace

Syria, Jordan, and the United States have announced a new roadmap aimed at restoring peace and security in Suwayda province, which was torn by sectarian violence in July that killed more than 250 people and forced over 160,000 to flee their homes.

The plan, unveiled in Damascus on Tuesday, focuses on accountability, humanitarian aid, reconciliation, and restoring stability. The roadmap is being seen as a critical step to prevent further bloodshed in a region already devastated by years of conflict.

Key steps in the roadmap

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani outlined the goals after meeting Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and US envoy Tom Barrack. The plan includes:

• Holding those responsible for civilian killings accountable

• Continuing humanitarian and medical assistance

• Compensating affected families

• Ensuring safe return of displaced people

• Restoring essential services like water, power, and schools

• Deploying local security forces to protect highways

• Investigating missing persons and rescuing abductees

• Launching an internal reconciliation process

Al-Shibani said the government is working to facilitate the return of displaced residents but did not give a timeline.

Jordan’s concerns and role

Jordan shares a border with Suwayda and has long worried about drug and weapons smuggling spilling over from Syria. Safadi said Suwayda’s stability is vital not only for Syria but also for Jordan’s own security.

“We want Syria to stabilise, recover, and rebuild after years of destruction,” Safadi said. “The roadmap is based on unity, equality, and a brighter future for all Syrians.”

Sectarian violence background

The violence in Suwayda began on July 13 after the kidnapping of a Druze truck driver. What started as a local dispute quickly escalated, drawing in Bedouin tribal fighters and resulting in heavy clashes.

Government forces were deployed to restore calm, but accusations emerged that they had sided with Bedouin fighters, worsening mistrust among Druze communities.

A ceasefire was reached on July 19, but by then hundreds were dead and thousands displaced.

Israel’s involvement and tensions

The unrest also drew in Israel, which carried out airstrikes on Syrian government convoys in Suwayda and even hit the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Damascus. Israel has openly said it will act to protect the Druze minority in Syria, which it sees as a possible ally.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later revealed that Israel was exploring the creation of a demilitarised zone in southern Syria. Damascus strongly condemned these strikes, holding Israel “fully responsible” for worsening instability.

Israel has long occupied the Golan Heights, internationally recognised as Syrian territory, and has repeatedly launched air raids inside Syria since President Bashar al-Assad’s fall in December.

US position and talks with Israel

As part of the new plan, Washington and Damascus will work together on security arrangements that also involve Israel. The aim is to address the “legitimate concerns” of both countries while respecting Syria’s sovereignty and territorial unity.

US envoy Barrack described the process as delicate and long-term: “Confidence-building takes inches, centimetres and decades to build, but can be lost in an instant.”

He warned that the path to peace would not be easy but stressed that international cooperation is vital.

Looking ahead

While the roadmap lays out goals, concrete steps remain unclear. What is certain is that Suwayda’s future depends on rebuilding trust among its communities, ensuring displaced families can return home safely, and preventing further foreign intervention from worsening divisions.

Al-Shibani stressed: “It is the duty of the state to restore normal life in Suwayda. Every Syrian deserves security and dignity.”

The joint plan is the first major coordinated effort by Syria, Jordan, and the US to address sectarian unrest in the south. Whether it succeeds will depend on how quickly promises are turned into action and how effectively all sides work to rebuild confidence.