US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged Damascus to stop jihadist-led massacres in southern Syria, warning that continued atrocities threaten Syria’s future and regional stability.
Washington, D.C. / Damascus, Syria – In a strongly worded statement posted Saturday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on the Syrian regime to act decisively to stop jihadist forces from committing massacres in southern Syria, particularly in the embattled Sweida region, where Druze and Bedouin militias have clashed violently in recent days.
“The rape and slaughter of innocent people, which has and is still occurring, must end,” Rubio declared on X (formerly Twitter), underscoring that the United States has remained deeply involved over the past 72 hours in coordinating responses with Israel, Jordan, and Syrian authorities.
Rubio stressed that Damascus must prevent jihadist fighters, including ISIS, from entering southern Syria, calling on the regime to deploy its security forces to halt the carnage and hold all perpetrators—including its own personnel—accountable for any atrocities.
“If Damascus wants to preserve any hope of a unified, inclusive, and sovereign Syria, free from ISIS and Iranian influence, then they must act now,” Rubio warned. He also demanded an immediate halt to internal fighting between Druze and Bedouin factions, which has devastated local communities.
His statement follows an announcement by US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, who revealed that Israel and Syria have agreed to a fragile ceasefire, brokered after renewed clashes on Friday. Barrack made a rare appeal:
“We call upon Druze, Bedouins, and Sunnis to lay down arms and work toward building a new and united Syrian identity, rooted in peace and coexistence.”
Barrack’s comments came in the wake of escalating conflict in Sweida, where local militias clashed following the withdrawal of Syrian army forces, reportedly prompted by Israeli airstrikes targeting the regime’s central command and the presidential palace in Damascus.
Despite the ceasefire announcement, violence reignited shortly after, compelling Damascus to announce it would redeploy military units to the volatile area.
In a televised response, Syrian politician Farouk Al-Sharaa accused Israel of fomenting unrest to destabilize Syria from within.
“Since the fall of the Assad regime, the Israeli entity has consistently sought to trigger internal wars, dividing Syria and pushing it toward chaos,” Al-Sharaa stated.
However, he claimed that Syria had chosen restraint, entrusting the security of Sweida to local Druze leadership and tribal factions, rather than escalating into full-scale war with Israel.
