Syria's government misread how Israel would respond to its troops deploying to the country's south this week, encouraged by U.S. messaging that Syria should be governed as a centralized state, eight sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Israel and Syria have agreed to a ceasefire after days of deadly clashes in Syria’s Druze-majority Sweida province, with over 300 killed. The truce is backed by Turkey, Jordan, and regional allies.