Syrian security forces to deploy in Sweida to stop tribal fighting

Syrian security forces are preparing to redeploy to the Druze-majority Sweida city to quell fighting by the Druze and Bedouin tribes, the Syrian interior ministry spokesperson said on Friday, Reuters reports. A ceasefire announced on Wednesday briefly ended days of bloody fighting that erupted when Bedouin and Druze fighters clashed in Sweida province, prompting the Syrian government to send in troops – further spiking violence.

The clashes drew in Israel, which said it would not allow Syria’s Islamist-led government to deploy troops to the south and struck Syrian troops in Sweida, the defence ministry and close to the presidential palace in Damascus. Syrian troops withdrew from Sweida after the truce was announced but clashes sparked up again late on Thursday between the tribal Bedouin fighters and the Druze, part of a religious minority that also has followers in Lebanon and Israel.

Israel’s military carried out fresh strikes in Sweida province overnight. However, Israel on Friday denied reports on the Syrian state news agency that it had conducted further airstrikes near the city of Sweida late the previous day, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports.

Syrian government security forces agreed with some of the Druze factions that they would re-enter Sweida to impose stability and protect state institutions, according to two Syrian officials who spoke to the Associated Press (AP) on Friday on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly.

William Christou, a Beirut-based journalist, reported on the conflict in southern Syria, where hundreds were wounded and killed in the violence that erupted in Sweida province.