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Amid clashes with Druze minority & Israeli bombardment, death toll in South Syria crosses 500
Members of the Druze minority and their supporters protest outside the US Embassy in Jerusalem, amid the clashes between Syrian government forces and Druze armed groups in the southern Syrian city of Sweida. AP
At least 516 people have been killed in the Sweida province of southern Syria, according to a war monitor's report on Thursday (July 17). This updated toll follows several days of clashes that prompted the deployment of government forces.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that among the dead were 79 Druze fighters and 154 civilians from Sweida. This includes 83 individuals who were summarily executed by members of the defence and interior ministries.
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The clashes also resulted in the deaths of 243 government personnel and 18 Bedouin fighters, along with three members of Bedouin tribes who were executed by Druze fighters.
Additionally, fifteen government personnel were killed in Israeli airstrikes.
With inputs from AFP
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