Syria and Israel have agreed to a ceasefire following intense sectarian violence in southern Syria that drew Israeli military intervention. The deal, brokered by the United States, marks a rare diplomatic breakthrough amid growing regional instability.

U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack announced the agreement early Saturday, stating that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Syrian interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa reached the accord under the sponsorship of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The truce has also received support from Turkey, Jordan, and other regional actors.

“We urge Druze, Bedouins, Sunnis, and all Syrian communities to unite in peace and rebuild their country together,” Barrack said in a social media post.

The ceasefire follows six days of brutal fighting in Sweida province, where clashes between Druze militias and Bedouin groups escalated into urban warfare involving Syrian government forces. Nearly 600 people were killed, including civilians and fighters from all sides, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The agreement allows Syrian military and security forces to re-enter all parts of Sweida, dissolves local militias, and calls for the surrender of heavy weapons. Former fighters will be integrated into the national security apparatus.

The Druze spiritual leadership welcomed the truce, urging a return to “wisdom and reason” and pledging to help restore order.

The violence had triggered a humanitarian crisis, with UN aid convoys blocked from reaching affected areas. The fragile ceasefire aims to prevent a wider regional conflict and rebuild trust among Syria’s fragmented communities.

Syrian authorities have yet to officially comment on the deal.