Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the new Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa have agreed on a ceasefire, announced US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barak, who is also the US special envoy for Syria.

The agreement is also supported by neighboring countries such as Turkey and Jordan, Barak added.

"We call on the Druze, Bedouin and Sunnis to lay down their weapons and - together with other minorities - to build a new, united Syrian identity in peace and prosperity with their neighbors," he wrote on the X platform.

In recent days, Israel has carried out large-scale airstrikes in the Syrian capital Damascus, including on the headquarters of the Syrian army.

Official Tel Aviv said the operation was in defense of the Druze community, after clashes between Druze and Bedouin in the southern Syrian region of Sweida resulted in casualties. The Druze also have a strong presence in Israel itself. | BGNES, AFP