Ceasefire agreement in Syria underway after Israel strikes Damascus

Leaders of the Druze religious minority and Syria signed a ceasefire agreement following Israel's bombing of Damascus, resulting in the Syrian Defense Ministry headquarters being hit. 

Druze religious leader Sheikh Yousef Jarbou made the announcement on Syrian state TV, according to The Washington Times. 

There have been clashes for days in the southern Syrian city of Sweida between the government and Druze armed groups. 

Israel has already launched dozens of strikes targeting Syrian government troops and convoys, which they say is in support of the Druze, a religious minority group.

The Syrian Defense Ministry had earlier blamed militias in the Druze-majority area of Sweida for violating a ceasefire agreement they had reached Tuesday, resulting in the return fire from Syrian army soldiers. The ministry said they were “adhering to rules of engagement to protect residents, prevent harm, and ensure the safe return of those who left the city back to their homes.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the U.S. is monitoring the situation. 

"We have engaged all the parties involved in the clashes in Syria," Rubio wrote on X. "We have agreed on specific steps that will bring this troubling and horrifying situation to an end tonight. This will require all parties to deliver on the commitments they have made and this is what we fully expect them to do."