A new ceasefire has been agreed on in the southern Syrian city of Sweida, the Syrian state news agency reported after deadly clashes erupted between the government forces and local fighters in the Druze-majority city prompting Israel to intervene by launching a series of strikes.

Druze religious leader Sheikh Yousef Jarbou also confirmed the news in a video broadcast by state media, saying that the ceasefire agreement with the Syrian government in Sweida will take immediate effect.

An earlier ceasefire announced on Tuesday night collapsed after only a few hours. There was still fire from government forces in the predominantly Druze city of Sweida after the announcement was made, according to a Reuters witness.

Israel had earlier on Wednesday launched multiple airstrikes, hitting Syria’s Damascus with live footage from Al Arabiya capturing intense strikes on the military headquarters. The strikes killed at least one person and injured 18 others.

Watch: Al Arabiya captures the moment an Israeli strike hits the Syrian military headquarters in Damascus.#AlArabiya #Syria #Israel

— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) July 16, 2025

Syrian government troops were dispatched to the Sweida region on Monday to quell fighting between Druze fighters and Bedouin armed men but ended up clashing with the Druze militias themselves.

Dozens of civilians, government troops and Druze fighters have been killed since the fighting erupted on Sunday.

A Syrian government statement on Wednesday said those responsible for lawlessness in Sweida would be held accountable.

It said the government was committed to protecting the rights of the people in Sweida.

Israel this week struck Syria’s Sweida multiple times since the clashes first started on Sunday, vowing to protect the Druze in Sweida and vowing to escalate attacks unless the Syrian government withdrew its forces from southern areas.

On Wednesday, Israel launched multiple strikes on Damascus striking the military headquarters. It also hit near the

presidential palace.

“A short while ago, the [Israeli military] struck the entrance of the Syrian regime’s military headquarters in the area of Damascus in Syria,” a statement from the Israeli army said after the first strike.

US Syria envoy Tom Barrack, who has praised Syria's new rulers and declared in May that peace was possible between Syriaand Israel, condemned violence against civilians in Sweida.

“All parties must step back and engage in meaningful dialogue that leads to a lasting ceasefire. Perpetrators need to be held accountable,” he said.