Syrian defence forces and the country’s Interior Ministry entered the city of As Suwayda to clean up and stabilise the situation after several days of fierce clashes between Druze militias and Bedouin tribes, the Syrian Interior Ministry said on social media on Tuesday, citing Internal Security Forces Commander Ahmed al-Dalati.
Special forces were deployed to “strengthen security and stability” in the region. Shortly before that, a curfew was imposed in As Suwayda. However, after government troops entered the city, fierce clashes broke out again in Suwayda.
The day before, the Israeli army announced that it had struck Syrian army tanks in the south of the country in response to the escalation of violence in Suwayda. Fierce clashes between Druze militias, Bedouin tribes and Syrian government forces have been ongoing there since last week.
According to the Syrian Interior Ministry, more than 30 people have been killed and about 100 wounded.
The Syrian Centre for Human Rights Monitoring reports at least 99 deaths, including women, children and security forces. The conflict began with the kidnapping of a Druze vegetable merchant by Bedouins, followed by a series of retaliatory attacks.
A representative of the Syrian Interior Ministry said that the clashes were not sectarian in nature and were between the state and criminal groups.
Israel, in turn, said it would not allow harm to come to the Druze population in Syria, stressing that the strike was a clear warning to the Syrian regime. In Israel, the Druze are considered a loyal minority and actively serve in the army.