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.

The State Department condemned recent Israeli strikes in Syria, and Secretary Marco Rubio announced a U.S.-brokered agreement between Israel and Syria to end immediate violence.

A Syrian military official said correspondence with the US had led Damascus to believe it could deploy forces to Sweida without Israel confronting them.

The statement by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio follows after Israel launched powerful airstrikes in the heart of Damascus, claiming it was defending the minority Druze community. View on euronews

The post Rubio says ‘real de-escalation’ in Syria expected in coming hours appeared first on The Times of Israel.

Rubio said that steps must be taken by "all parties to deliver on commitments they have made and this is what we fully expect them to do."