A fragile truce is holding in Syria, after a week of fighting between Druze and Bedouin factions in the country's south. Bedouin families who had been trapped in Suwayda have begun evacuating.

As Suwayda

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Approximately 1,500 Bedouin families have been evacuated from Suwayda, Syria, following days of violence between Druze militia and Bedouin residents. The evacuation, facilitated by a convoy of buses, is seen as a potential sign of de-escalation after a fragile ceasefire was reached, despite earlier setbacks over detainee exchanges.

The city has suffered extensive damage, with hundreds killed, tens of thousands displaced, and widespread destruction reported. Efforts to deliver aid have been hindered, and government officials have been denied entry by local leaders. The ceasefire remains difficult to implement, but the successful evacuation of hostages may represent a first step toward peace.

Bedouin families evacuate Syria's Suwayda as fragile ceasefire holds

A convoy of buses has finally entered the city of Suwayda to evacuate approximately 1,500 Bedouin families. They were being held by Druze militia according to the Syrian Red Crescent. This could be the first real sign of de-escalation following days of violence. In the hours before, it had appeared as if a fragile ceasefire had collapsed because of problems exchanging detainees. We'll carry on fighting until the last drop of blood. If they don't return the women they're holding, we'll fight until the last man. Suwayda has been badly damaged. This is the western district where most of the fighting took place over the last few days. After the pullout of government troops on Thursday, Druze fighters mounted revenge attacks on Bedouin residents and took a number of them prison. Armed Bedouins then stormed the area and clashed with the Druze before they were made to pull out on Saturday following a ceasefire agreement. But implementing the ceasefire will be difficult. Government officials bringing convoys of medical and food supplies were denied entry to the city by a Druze spiritual leader. We're here to discharge our duty towards people without regard to their backgrounds. We serve all Syrians. The presence of a number of officials here today is a way to stress that fact. Hundreds of people have lost their lives. Tens of thousands have fled. Unidentified bodies are rotting in the streets and there's been looting and destruction of property on a wide scale. The Syrian government says it will need to enter the city to assess the damage in order to fix it. There is no doubt that the interruption of basic services such as communications, power and water has taken place. But the cause of that was not the alleged siege, but rather the depletion of the fuel required to operate communication towers and also the bombing of power facilities. Once again the ceasefire in Suwayda has faced challenges, but if the release and evacuation of hostages will go through unhindered, it may be the first step that may lead to peace. Mohamed Vali, Al Jazeera, Damascus.

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Bedouin families evacuate Syria's Suwayda as fragile ceasefire holds

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