Syrian authorities have announced a new ceasefire in Suwayda.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he hoped for "de-escalation" in southern Syria in the "coming hours," speaking of a "misunderstanding" between Israel and neighboring Syria, AFP reported.

The first truce, announced yesterday, had no effect, with clashes continuing throughout the day in Suwayda, a city with a Druze majority, an esoteric minority group descended from Islam, according to witnesses.

Fighting between local Bedouin tribes and Druze fighters broke out on July 13 in the province of Suwayda and the city of the same name after the kidnapping of a Druze vegetable merchant, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).

Government forces and their allies moved into the city of Suwayda on July 15, which had been controlled by Druze fighters until then. But according to SOHR and witnesses, they fought alongside Bedouin tribes and were accused of extrajudicial killings of civilians and looting.

Today, the Israeli army carried out new strikes in Damascus, targeting the entrance to the Syrian army headquarters and a "military target" in the area of the presidential palace. Syrian authorities reported one dead and 18 wounded.

According to the Syrian agency Sana, Israeli drones also struck Suwayda.

Israel, which claims it wants to protect the Druze community, said it would not allow a military presence in southern Syria near its border and viewed the Islamist government in Syria with suspicion.

Defense Minister Israel Katz promised Ahmad al-Shara's government "painful blows."

He assured that the army would strike "with force" in Suwayda "to eliminate the forces that attacked the Druze until their complete withdrawal" and called on the Syrian government to "leave the Druze alone."

An Israeli military representative announced that troops stationed in Gaza would be transferred to the border with Syria.

The Israeli army also reported that it had identified "dozens of suspects" attempting to cross the border from Syria.

Dozens of Druze crossed the border in both directions under tear gas fired by Israeli forces.

Israel, which has occupied part of the Syrian Golan Heights since 1967, says it will not allow a military presence in southern Syria near its border.

The Defense Ministry said that "illegal groups have resumed attacks on the army and internal security forces in the city" and that the army continues to "respond" to the shooting. | BGNES