Rubio says US brokered end to Syria conflict

Syria's defense ministry was targeted in Israeli attacks on the capital

A view of the damage following Israeli strikes on the Syrian army and defence ministry headquarters in Damascus
A view of the damage following Israeli strikes on the Syrian army and defense ministry headquarters in Damascus
(Image credit: Louai Beshara / AFP / Getty Images)

What happened

The U.S. has agreed to "specific steps" to stop the wave of violence in Syria that culminated in Wednesday's Israeli air strikes on Damascus, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Who said what

Rubio said he was "very worried" about the violence and claimed the steps agreed would bring the "troubling and horrifying situation" to an end.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted that his forces were "working to save our Druze brothers," but Syria accused him of "treacherous aggression." The "Israeli entity" wants to "destabilize us and sow division," said interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

What next?

In a post on X, Rubio said Washington "will require all parties to deliver on the commitments they have made."

The Syrian government has begun withdrawing its forces from the majority-Druze city of Suwayda, according to the country's state-run SANA news agency. A ceasefire with Druze militia has also been announced but it is "unclear" whether it will hold, said CNN.

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Jessica Hullinger

Jessica Hullinger is a writer and former deputy editor of The Week Digital. Originally from the American Midwest, she completed a degree in journalism at Indiana University Bloomington before relocating to New York City, where she pursued a career in media. After joining The Week as an intern in 2010, she served as the title’s audience development manager, senior editor and deputy editor, as well as a regular guest on “The Week Unwrapped” podcast. Her writing has featured in other publications including Popular Science, Fast Company, Fortune, and Self magazine, and she loves covering science and climate-related issues.