The recent violent events in Sweida have complicated the U.S. diplomatic stance toward Syria, disrupting what had been a trend toward resolution and strong support for Syrian President Ahmad al-Shar’ in Washington. The clashes erupted at a critical moment, prompting U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to describe the situation as a “misunderstanding,” amid violence that resulted in over 600 fatalities and the destruction of the Syrian military headquarters in Damascus.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce emphasized that Washington does not endorse the recent Israeli strikes on Syria and conveyed Donald Trump’s strong dissatisfaction, indicating that the recent tensions have adversely affected American plans and interests related to the Syrian government.
According to Bruce, the U.S. continues to engage diplomatically with Israel and Syria at high levels to address the current crisis and seeks a long-term agreement between the two sovereign nations. She characterized Washington’s approach to the crisis as focused specifically on the current situation, suggesting it is considered distinct from broader reconciliation efforts.
The United States condemned the violence in Syria and, as per the State Department, is striving to involve all parties in the country, urging the Syrian government to facilitate this process. The U.S. refrained from expressing support for Israeli strikes against Syrian forces in Sweida or Damascus.
This violence underscores the challenges facing al-Shar’ in achieving stability and establishing centralized governance in Syria, despite improved relations with the U.S. and enhanced security communications between his government and Israel.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that there was an attempt to “disrupt the ceasefire reached yesterday with our country’s contribution.” He accused Israel of demonstrating that it does not desire peace or stability in Gaza or Syria, adding that Israel is using the Druze as a pretext to extend its territorial control into Syria.
A joint statement was released by the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, Turkey, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Egypt, expressing their support for Syria’s security, unity, stability, and sovereignty, while rejecting any foreign interference in its affairs. They welcomed the agreement reached to resolve the crisis in Sweida and stressed the necessity of its implementation to protect Syria’s unity.
In a statement late Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed, “We have contacted all parties involved in the clashes in Syria. We have agreed on specific steps aimed at ending this alarming and distressing situation tonight.”