Israel vows to protect Druze as it strikes Syrian city
A Reuters reporter heard at least four strikes as drones could be heard over the predominantly Druze city of Sweida on Tuesday and saw a damaged tank being towed away.
Dozens of people have been killed in fighting in the region since Sunday.
The upsurge in violence underlines the challenges facing interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa who has struggled to assert control over the area near the Israeli border since toppling Bashar al-Assad in December.
While Sharaa has been buoyed by rapidly improving ties with US President Donald Trump's administration, the violence has highlighted lingering sectarian tensions and distrust among minority groups towards his Islamist-led government - distrust that was deepened by mass killings of Alawites in March.
Israel, which has struck Syria several times in the name of protecting the Druze, carried out its latest attacks after influential Druze Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri issued a statement accusing government troops of breaching a ceasefire and urging fighters to confront what he described as a barbaric attack.
After al-Hajiri appeared in a recorded statement, Syrian Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra declared that a complete ceasefire was in place, and saying government forces would only open fire if fired upon.
Abu Qasra also said military police had been ordered to deploy in Sweida to "control military behaviour and hold violators accountable", the state news agency SANA reported.
The Druze are a minority group whose faith is an offshoot of Islam and has followers in Israel, Syria and Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said they had ordered Israel's military to strike "regime forces" and weaponry brought to Sweida to be used against the Druze.
In a statement, they said the deployment of government forces was in violation of a demilitarisation policy that had called on Damascus to refrain from bringing forces and weapons into southern Syria that pose a threat to Israel.
"Israel is committed to preventing harm to the Druze in Syria due to the deep brotherhood alliance with our Druze citizens in Israel," they said.
"We are acting to prevent the Syrian regime from harming them and to ensure the demilitarisation of the area adjacent to our border with Syria."
The latest violence began on Sunday with fighting between armed Druze groups and Bedouin fighters in Sweida province, which displaced thousands of people.
The Druze spiritual leadership said in a statement on Tuesday morning that it would allow Syrian forces to enter Sweida city to stop the bloodshed, calling on armed groups to surrender their weapons and co-operate with incoming troops.
But hours later, al-Hajri, a vocal opponent of the new Syrian leadership, said the statement had been "imposed" on them by Damascus and Syrian troops had breached the arrangement by continuing to fire on residents.
"We are being subject to a total war of extermination," he said in a recorded video statement.
Convoys of Syrian army tanks, trucks and motorcycles entered parts of Sweida city by mid-morning and were continuing to fire on neighbourhoods there, the Reuters reporter in Sweida said.
On Monday, Israel's military said it had carried out several strikes on tanks approaching Sweida "to prevent their arrival to the area" because they could pose a threat to Israel.
Israel has carried out strikes against Syrian government forces in southwestern Syria for a second day, vowing to keep the area demilitarised and to protect the Druze minority as deadly clashes continue in the region at the Israeli frontier.
A Reuters reporter heard at least four strikes as drones could be heard over the predominantly Druze city of Sweida on Tuesday and saw a damaged tank being towed away.
Dozens of people have been killed in fighting in the region since Sunday.
The upsurge in violence underlines the challenges facing interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa who has struggled to assert control over the area near the Israeli border since toppling Bashar al-Assad in December.
While Sharaa has been buoyed by rapidly improving ties with US President Donald Trump's administration, the violence has highlighted lingering sectarian tensions and distrust among minority groups towards his Islamist-led government - distrust that was deepened by mass killings of Alawites in March.
Israel, which has struck Syria several times in the name of protecting the Druze, carried out its latest attacks after influential Druze Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri issued a statement accusing government troops of breaching a ceasefire and urging fighters to confront what he described as a barbaric attack.
After al-Hajiri appeared in a recorded statement, Syrian Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra declared that a complete ceasefire was in place, and saying government forces would only open fire if fired upon.
Abu Qasra also said military police had been ordered to deploy in Sweida to "control military behaviour and hold violators accountable", the state news agency SANA reported.
The Druze are a minority group whose faith is an offshoot of Islam and has followers in Israel, Syria and Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said they had ordered Israel's military to strike "regime forces" and weaponry brought to Sweida to be used against the Druze.
In a statement, they said the deployment of government forces was in violation of a demilitarisation policy that had called on Damascus to refrain from bringing forces and weapons into southern Syria that pose a threat to Israel.
"Israel is committed to preventing harm to the Druze in Syria due to the deep brotherhood alliance with our Druze citizens in Israel," they said.
"We are acting to prevent the Syrian regime from harming them and to ensure the demilitarisation of the area adjacent to our border with Syria."
The latest violence began on Sunday with fighting between armed Druze groups and Bedouin fighters in Sweida province, which displaced thousands of people.
The Druze spiritual leadership said in a statement on Tuesday morning that it would allow Syrian forces to enter Sweida city to stop the bloodshed, calling on armed groups to surrender their weapons and co-operate with incoming troops.
But hours later, al-Hajri, a vocal opponent of the new Syrian leadership, said the statement had been "imposed" on them by Damascus and Syrian troops had breached the arrangement by continuing to fire on residents.
"We are being subject to a total war of extermination," he said in a recorded video statement.
Convoys of Syrian army tanks, trucks and motorcycles entered parts of Sweida city by mid-morning and were continuing to fire on neighbourhoods there, the Reuters reporter in Sweida said.
On Monday, Israel's military said it had carried out several strikes on tanks approaching Sweida "to prevent their arrival to the area" because they could pose a threat to Israel.
Israel has carried out strikes against Syrian government forces in southwestern Syria for a second day, vowing to keep the area demilitarised and to protect the Druze minority as deadly clashes continue in the region at the Israeli frontier.
A Reuters reporter heard at least four strikes as drones could be heard over the predominantly Druze city of Sweida on Tuesday and saw a damaged tank being towed away.
Dozens of people have been killed in fighting in the region since Sunday.
The upsurge in violence underlines the challenges facing interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa who has struggled to assert control over the area near the Israeli border since toppling Bashar al-Assad in December.
While Sharaa has been buoyed by rapidly improving ties with US President Donald Trump's administration, the violence has highlighted lingering sectarian tensions and distrust among minority groups towards his Islamist-led government - distrust that was deepened by mass killings of Alawites in March.
Israel, which has struck Syria several times in the name of protecting the Druze, carried out its latest attacks after influential Druze Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri issued a statement accusing government troops of breaching a ceasefire and urging fighters to confront what he described as a barbaric attack.
After al-Hajiri appeared in a recorded statement, Syrian Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra declared that a complete ceasefire was in place, and saying government forces would only open fire if fired upon.
Abu Qasra also said military police had been ordered to deploy in Sweida to "control military behaviour and hold violators accountable", the state news agency SANA reported.
The Druze are a minority group whose faith is an offshoot of Islam and has followers in Israel, Syria and Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said they had ordered Israel's military to strike "regime forces" and weaponry brought to Sweida to be used against the Druze.
In a statement, they said the deployment of government forces was in violation of a demilitarisation policy that had called on Damascus to refrain from bringing forces and weapons into southern Syria that pose a threat to Israel.
"Israel is committed to preventing harm to the Druze in Syria due to the deep brotherhood alliance with our Druze citizens in Israel," they said.
"We are acting to prevent the Syrian regime from harming them and to ensure the demilitarisation of the area adjacent to our border with Syria."
The latest violence began on Sunday with fighting between armed Druze groups and Bedouin fighters in Sweida province, which displaced thousands of people.
The Druze spiritual leadership said in a statement on Tuesday morning that it would allow Syrian forces to enter Sweida city to stop the bloodshed, calling on armed groups to surrender their weapons and co-operate with incoming troops.
But hours later, al-Hajri, a vocal opponent of the new Syrian leadership, said the statement had been "imposed" on them by Damascus and Syrian troops had breached the arrangement by continuing to fire on residents.
"We are being subject to a total war of extermination," he said in a recorded video statement.
Convoys of Syrian army tanks, trucks and motorcycles entered parts of Sweida city by mid-morning and were continuing to fire on neighbourhoods there, the Reuters reporter in Sweida said.
On Monday, Israel's military said it had carried out several strikes on tanks approaching Sweida "to prevent their arrival to the area" because they could pose a threat to Israel.
Israel has carried out strikes against Syrian government forces in southwestern Syria for a second day, vowing to keep the area demilitarised and to protect the Druze minority as deadly clashes continue in the region at the Israeli frontier.
A Reuters reporter heard at least four strikes as drones could be heard over the predominantly Druze city of Sweida on Tuesday and saw a damaged tank being towed away.
Dozens of people have been killed in fighting in the region since Sunday.
The upsurge in violence underlines the challenges facing interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa who has struggled to assert control over the area near the Israeli border since toppling Bashar al-Assad in December.
While Sharaa has been buoyed by rapidly improving ties with US President Donald Trump's administration, the violence has highlighted lingering sectarian tensions and distrust among minority groups towards his Islamist-led government - distrust that was deepened by mass killings of Alawites in March.
Israel, which has struck Syria several times in the name of protecting the Druze, carried out its latest attacks after influential Druze Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri issued a statement accusing government troops of breaching a ceasefire and urging fighters to confront what he described as a barbaric attack.
After al-Hajiri appeared in a recorded statement, Syrian Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra declared that a complete ceasefire was in place, and saying government forces would only open fire if fired upon.
Abu Qasra also said military police had been ordered to deploy in Sweida to "control military behaviour and hold violators accountable", the state news agency SANA reported.
The Druze are a minority group whose faith is an offshoot of Islam and has followers in Israel, Syria and Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said they had ordered Israel's military to strike "regime forces" and weaponry brought to Sweida to be used against the Druze.
In a statement, they said the deployment of government forces was in violation of a demilitarisation policy that had called on Damascus to refrain from bringing forces and weapons into southern Syria that pose a threat to Israel.
"Israel is committed to preventing harm to the Druze in Syria due to the deep brotherhood alliance with our Druze citizens in Israel," they said.
"We are acting to prevent the Syrian regime from harming them and to ensure the demilitarisation of the area adjacent to our border with Syria."
The latest violence began on Sunday with fighting between armed Druze groups and Bedouin fighters in Sweida province, which displaced thousands of people.
The Druze spiritual leadership said in a statement on Tuesday morning that it would allow Syrian forces to enter Sweida city to stop the bloodshed, calling on armed groups to surrender their weapons and co-operate with incoming troops.
But hours later, al-Hajri, a vocal opponent of the new Syrian leadership, said the statement had been "imposed" on them by Damascus and Syrian troops had breached the arrangement by continuing to fire on residents.
"We are being subject to a total war of extermination," he said in a recorded video statement.
Convoys of Syrian army tanks, trucks and motorcycles entered parts of Sweida city by mid-morning and were continuing to fire on neighbourhoods there, the Reuters reporter in Sweida said.
On Monday, Israel's military said it had carried out several strikes on tanks approaching Sweida "to prevent their arrival to the area" because they could pose a threat to Israel.
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The Advertiser
35 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Israel strikes in Damascus as clashes in Syria rage on
Clashes have raged in the southern Syrian city of Sweida after a ceasefire between government forces and Druze armed groups collapsed and as Israel threatens to escalate its involvement, saying it's in support of the Druze religious minority. Meanwhile, the Israeli army said it struck near the entrance to the Syrian defence ministry in Damascus. Israel has launched air strikes on convoys of government forces in southern Syria since the clashes erupted and has beefed up forces on the border. Syria's defence ministry had earlier blamed militias in Sweida for violating a ceasefire agreement that had been reached on Tuesday, causing Syrian army soldiers to return fire and continue military operations in the Druze-majority province. "Military forces continue to respond to the source of fire inside the city of Sweida, while adhering to rules of engagement to protect residents, prevent harm, and ensure the safe return of those who left the city back to their homes," the statement said. A rebel offensive led by Islamist insurgent groups ousted Syria's longtime despotic leader, Bashar Assad, in December, bringing an end to a nearly 14-year civil war. Since then, the country's new rulers have struggled to consolidate control over the territory. The primarily Sunni Muslim leaders have faced suspicion from religious and ethnic minorities. The fears of minorities increased after clashes between government forces and pro-Assad armed groups in March spiralled into sectarian revenge attacks in which hundreds of civilians from the Alawite religious minority, to which Assad belongs, were killed. The latest escalation in Syria began with tit-for-tat kidnappings and attacks between local Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze armed factions in the southern province, a centre of the Druze community. Government forces that intervened to restore order have also clashed with the Druze, while reports have surfaced of members of the security forces carrying out extrajudicial killings, looting and burning civilian homes. No official casualty figures have been released since Monday, when the Syrian interior ministry said 30 people had been killed. The UK-based war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said more than 250 people had been killed as of Wednesday morning, including four children, five women and 138 soldiers and security forces. The observatory said at least 21 people were killed in "field executions". The Druze religious sect began as a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shi'ite Islam. More than half the roughly one million Druze worldwide live in Syria. Most of the other Druze live in Lebanon and Israel, including in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast War and annexed in 1981. In Israel, the Druze are seen as a loyal minority and often serve in the military. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday night that Israel has "a commitment to preserve the southwestern region of Syria as a demilitarised area on Israel's border" and has "an obligation to safeguard the Druze locals". Israel has taken an aggressive stance towards Syria's new leaders since Assad's fall, saying it does not want Islamist militants near its borders. Clashes have raged in the southern Syrian city of Sweida after a ceasefire between government forces and Druze armed groups collapsed and as Israel threatens to escalate its involvement, saying it's in support of the Druze religious minority. Meanwhile, the Israeli army said it struck near the entrance to the Syrian defence ministry in Damascus. Israel has launched air strikes on convoys of government forces in southern Syria since the clashes erupted and has beefed up forces on the border. Syria's defence ministry had earlier blamed militias in Sweida for violating a ceasefire agreement that had been reached on Tuesday, causing Syrian army soldiers to return fire and continue military operations in the Druze-majority province. "Military forces continue to respond to the source of fire inside the city of Sweida, while adhering to rules of engagement to protect residents, prevent harm, and ensure the safe return of those who left the city back to their homes," the statement said. A rebel offensive led by Islamist insurgent groups ousted Syria's longtime despotic leader, Bashar Assad, in December, bringing an end to a nearly 14-year civil war. Since then, the country's new rulers have struggled to consolidate control over the territory. The primarily Sunni Muslim leaders have faced suspicion from religious and ethnic minorities. The fears of minorities increased after clashes between government forces and pro-Assad armed groups in March spiralled into sectarian revenge attacks in which hundreds of civilians from the Alawite religious minority, to which Assad belongs, were killed. The latest escalation in Syria began with tit-for-tat kidnappings and attacks between local Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze armed factions in the southern province, a centre of the Druze community. Government forces that intervened to restore order have also clashed with the Druze, while reports have surfaced of members of the security forces carrying out extrajudicial killings, looting and burning civilian homes. No official casualty figures have been released since Monday, when the Syrian interior ministry said 30 people had been killed. The UK-based war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said more than 250 people had been killed as of Wednesday morning, including four children, five women and 138 soldiers and security forces. The observatory said at least 21 people were killed in "field executions". The Druze religious sect began as a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shi'ite Islam. More than half the roughly one million Druze worldwide live in Syria. Most of the other Druze live in Lebanon and Israel, including in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast War and annexed in 1981. In Israel, the Druze are seen as a loyal minority and often serve in the military. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday night that Israel has "a commitment to preserve the southwestern region of Syria as a demilitarised area on Israel's border" and has "an obligation to safeguard the Druze locals". Israel has taken an aggressive stance towards Syria's new leaders since Assad's fall, saying it does not want Islamist militants near its borders. Clashes have raged in the southern Syrian city of Sweida after a ceasefire between government forces and Druze armed groups collapsed and as Israel threatens to escalate its involvement, saying it's in support of the Druze religious minority. Meanwhile, the Israeli army said it struck near the entrance to the Syrian defence ministry in Damascus. Israel has launched air strikes on convoys of government forces in southern Syria since the clashes erupted and has beefed up forces on the border. Syria's defence ministry had earlier blamed militias in Sweida for violating a ceasefire agreement that had been reached on Tuesday, causing Syrian army soldiers to return fire and continue military operations in the Druze-majority province. "Military forces continue to respond to the source of fire inside the city of Sweida, while adhering to rules of engagement to protect residents, prevent harm, and ensure the safe return of those who left the city back to their homes," the statement said. A rebel offensive led by Islamist insurgent groups ousted Syria's longtime despotic leader, Bashar Assad, in December, bringing an end to a nearly 14-year civil war. Since then, the country's new rulers have struggled to consolidate control over the territory. The primarily Sunni Muslim leaders have faced suspicion from religious and ethnic minorities. The fears of minorities increased after clashes between government forces and pro-Assad armed groups in March spiralled into sectarian revenge attacks in which hundreds of civilians from the Alawite religious minority, to which Assad belongs, were killed. The latest escalation in Syria began with tit-for-tat kidnappings and attacks between local Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze armed factions in the southern province, a centre of the Druze community. Government forces that intervened to restore order have also clashed with the Druze, while reports have surfaced of members of the security forces carrying out extrajudicial killings, looting and burning civilian homes. No official casualty figures have been released since Monday, when the Syrian interior ministry said 30 people had been killed. The UK-based war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said more than 250 people had been killed as of Wednesday morning, including four children, five women and 138 soldiers and security forces. The observatory said at least 21 people were killed in "field executions". The Druze religious sect began as a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shi'ite Islam. More than half the roughly one million Druze worldwide live in Syria. Most of the other Druze live in Lebanon and Israel, including in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast War and annexed in 1981. In Israel, the Druze are seen as a loyal minority and often serve in the military. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday night that Israel has "a commitment to preserve the southwestern region of Syria as a demilitarised area on Israel's border" and has "an obligation to safeguard the Druze locals". Israel has taken an aggressive stance towards Syria's new leaders since Assad's fall, saying it does not want Islamist militants near its borders. Clashes have raged in the southern Syrian city of Sweida after a ceasefire between government forces and Druze armed groups collapsed and as Israel threatens to escalate its involvement, saying it's in support of the Druze religious minority. Meanwhile, the Israeli army said it struck near the entrance to the Syrian defence ministry in Damascus. Israel has launched air strikes on convoys of government forces in southern Syria since the clashes erupted and has beefed up forces on the border. Syria's defence ministry had earlier blamed militias in Sweida for violating a ceasefire agreement that had been reached on Tuesday, causing Syrian army soldiers to return fire and continue military operations in the Druze-majority province. "Military forces continue to respond to the source of fire inside the city of Sweida, while adhering to rules of engagement to protect residents, prevent harm, and ensure the safe return of those who left the city back to their homes," the statement said. A rebel offensive led by Islamist insurgent groups ousted Syria's longtime despotic leader, Bashar Assad, in December, bringing an end to a nearly 14-year civil war. Since then, the country's new rulers have struggled to consolidate control over the territory. The primarily Sunni Muslim leaders have faced suspicion from religious and ethnic minorities. The fears of minorities increased after clashes between government forces and pro-Assad armed groups in March spiralled into sectarian revenge attacks in which hundreds of civilians from the Alawite religious minority, to which Assad belongs, were killed. The latest escalation in Syria began with tit-for-tat kidnappings and attacks between local Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze armed factions in the southern province, a centre of the Druze community. Government forces that intervened to restore order have also clashed with the Druze, while reports have surfaced of members of the security forces carrying out extrajudicial killings, looting and burning civilian homes. No official casualty figures have been released since Monday, when the Syrian interior ministry said 30 people had been killed. The UK-based war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said more than 250 people had been killed as of Wednesday morning, including four children, five women and 138 soldiers and security forces. The observatory said at least 21 people were killed in "field executions". The Druze religious sect began as a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shi'ite Islam. More than half the roughly one million Druze worldwide live in Syria. Most of the other Druze live in Lebanon and Israel, including in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast War and annexed in 1981. In Israel, the Druze are seen as a loyal minority and often serve in the military. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday night that Israel has "a commitment to preserve the southwestern region of Syria as a demilitarised area on Israel's border" and has "an obligation to safeguard the Druze locals". Israel has taken an aggressive stance towards Syria's new leaders since Assad's fall, saying it does not want Islamist militants near its borders.
Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Sky News AU
Israel launches fresh attacks against Syrian military headquarters as border tensions grow following clashes
Israel has launched fresh strikes on Syria as tensions between both nations mount following clashes on the Golan Heights border. Syrian state media reported two airstrikes hit the city of Sweida on Wednesday, local time, with further explosions also heard in the the capital Damascus. Israel's military confirmed it had carried out attacks on the entrance to Syrian Defence Ministry headquarters, with officials claiming the attacks were aimed at protecting the Druze minority group from Islamist-led authorities. The Druze religious group in southern Syria have ties with Israel's own Druze population. Loud explosions were heard in Damascus on Wednesday. Picture: Izettin Kasim/Anadolu via Getty Images Sources within Syria's Defence Ministry told Reuters at least two drone strikes had hit the building and that officers were taking cover in the basement. State owned broadcaster Elekhbariya TV said the Israeli strike wounded two civilians. Government security forces have clashed with local Druze fighters in the southern city of Sweida in recent days, prompting action from Israel's Defence Forces. The IDF said it was continuing "to monitor developments and the actions being taken against Druze civilians in southern Syria". Members of the minority groups have also protested on both sides of the Israel-Syria border in the Golan Heights, sparking clashes with security agents. On Wednesday, IDF personnel attempted to disperse protestors on both sides of the border after some had broken through fences separating the two nations. Clashes broke out as troops moved in, with vision appearing to show soldiers deploying flash grenades to try and drive off protestors. A small grass fire erupted during the chaos, causing demonstrators to flee. Israel has launched a number of strikes on Syria in recent months in order to target groups it perceives as hostile and a threat to its security. The IDF has operated within the borders of its neighbour following the fall of the Assad regime, which has drawn the ire of the new Syrian government. Syrian leader, and former militant, Ahmed al-Sharaa has condemned the latest attacks describing them as a calculated attempt to sow chaos in the country. There had been speculation al-Sharaa would strike a peace deal with Israel in order to normalise ties between the two nations, although this now appears unlikely in the short-term. The Golan Heights, in which the border clashes have occurred is disputed territory and most nations, including Australia do not recognise Israel's sovereignty in the region. Picture:The Golan Heights, in which the border clashes have occurred is disputed territory and most nations, including Australia do not recognise Israel's sovereignty in the region. Israel seized the territory in the Six-Day War of 1967, before annexing it in 1981. It is likely Syria would demand the return of some, if not all, of the land as part of any peace agreement between the two nations. With Reuters.
West Australian
an hour ago
- West Australian
Israel strikes in Damascus as clashes in Syria rage on
Clashes have raged in the southern Syrian city of Sweida after a ceasefire between government forces and Druze armed groups collapsed and as Israel threatens to escalate its involvement, saying it's in support of the Druze religious minority. Meanwhile, the Israeli army said it struck near the entrance to the Syrian defence ministry in Damascus. Israel has launched air strikes on convoys of government forces in southern Syria since the clashes erupted and has beefed up forces on the border. Syria's defence ministry had earlier blamed militias in Sweida for violating a ceasefire agreement that had been reached on Tuesday, causing Syrian army soldiers to return fire and continue military operations in the Druze-majority province. "Military forces continue to respond to the source of fire inside the city of Sweida, while adhering to rules of engagement to protect residents, prevent harm, and ensure the safe return of those who left the city back to their homes," the statement said. A rebel offensive led by Islamist insurgent groups ousted Syria's longtime despotic leader, Bashar Assad, in December, bringing an end to a nearly 14-year civil war. Since then, the country's new rulers have struggled to consolidate control over the territory. The primarily Sunni Muslim leaders have faced suspicion from religious and ethnic minorities. The fears of minorities increased after clashes between government forces and pro-Assad armed groups in March spiralled into sectarian revenge attacks in which hundreds of civilians from the Alawite religious minority, to which Assad belongs, were killed. The latest escalation in Syria began with tit-for-tat kidnappings and attacks between local Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze armed factions in the southern province, a centre of the Druze community. Government forces that intervened to restore order have also clashed with the Druze, while reports have surfaced of members of the security forces carrying out extrajudicial killings, looting and burning civilian homes. No official casualty figures have been released since Monday, when the Syrian interior ministry said 30 people had been killed. The UK-based war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said more than 250 people had been killed as of Wednesday morning, including four children, five women and 138 soldiers and security forces. The observatory said at least 21 people were killed in "field executions". The Druze religious sect began as a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shi'ite Islam. More than half the roughly one million Druze worldwide live in Syria. Most of the other Druze live in Lebanon and Israel, including in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast War and annexed in 1981. In Israel, the Druze are seen as a loyal minority and often serve in the military. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday night that Israel has "a commitment to preserve the southwestern region of Syria as a demilitarised area on Israel's border" and has "an obligation to safeguard the Druze locals". Israel has taken an aggressive stance towards Syria's new leaders since Assad's fall, saying it does not want Islamist militants near its borders.
