For today, links to eight reports: from the Cradle, Anadolu Ajansi, Middle East Eye, the Associated Press, and Reuters; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (SYRIA 7-17-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  WEST BANK, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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NEWER  Syrian Druze confront new attacks after Sharaa declares Suwayda ‘ceasefire.’ From the Cradle. The Syrian presidency today announced an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire in the southern province of Suwayda, even as heavily armed Bedouin tribes aligned with Damascus continue their attacks on the Druze-majority governorate. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Anadolu Ajansi.

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Syrian forces deploy in Suwayda for phase 1 of ceasefire agreement, by Ikram Kouachi | Anadolu Ajansi  ANKARA — Syrian government forces began deploying in the southern province of Suwayda today as part of phase one of a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending violent clashes and restoring state authority, a source from the Information Ministry confirmed. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for earlier report from Anadolu, and HERE for one from Middle East Eye. 

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Syria’s interim president urges Bedouin tribes to commit to ceasefire ending clashes with the Druze, by Sall Abou Aljoud | AP  BEIRUT — Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa urged Sunni Muslim Bedouin tribes today to “fully commit” to a ceasefire aimed at ending clashes with Druze-linked militias that left hundreds dead and threatened to unravel the country’s post-war transition. — this as government forces, initially sent to . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM JULY 18  Head of UN rights office urges accountability for killings in Syria’s Sweida, by Olivia Le Poidevin | Reuters  GENEVA  — The head of the United Nations human rights office called on Friday for Syria’s interim authorities to ensure accountability and justice for killings and rights violations this week in the southern city of Sweida. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JULY 18  Israel agrees to allow Syrian troops limited access to Sweida. From Reuters. BEIRUT / JERUSALEM — Israel has agreed to allow limited access by Syrian forces into the Sweida area of southern Syria for the next two days, an Israeli official said on Friday, after days of bloodshed in the predominantly Druze area that has killed over 300 people. READ MORE . . .

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