Syrian troops positioned outside Sweida city as violence continues

Miami Herald

2 days ago

DAMASCUS, Syria - Syrian government troops have returned to the outskirts of the embattled city of Sweida, security sources and eyewitnesses said on Friday, amid reports of further violence in nearby villages.
The troops were preparing to re-enter the city to act as a buffer between warring Sunni Bedouins and Druze, the sources said.
Days of deadly fighting in the city have left over 500 people dead, amid reports of atrocities carried out against civilians.
Syrian official Nour al-Din al-Baba denied media reports that troops had entered the city, and accused media outlets of spreading disinformation.
The spiritual leader of Syria's Druze community, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, denounced any re-entry of government troops into Sweida.
A Druze source close to al-Hijri told dpa, "We do not trust government forces because they are backing the Bedouin tribes."
Representatives of Arab tribal militias - who claim to have mobilized tens of thousands of fighters from across Syria in support of the Bedouins - have also warned the government against intervening.
Clashes continue near Sweidacity
Violent armed clashes broke out on Friday between fighters from Bedouin tribes and local Druze militias, a war monitoring group and eyewitnesses said.
The confrontations occurred near the village of Walgha, on the western outskirts of Sweida city, and the village of al-Surah al-Kabira, the sources said.
Inside the city of Sweida itself, a tense calm is prevailing, a Druze resident of the city told dpa.
"Everyone is cautious. We moved our families to safer areas. Men stayed in the city to protect it and protect our properties," said the man, who did not want to reveal his name for security reasons.
The city, home to nearly 400,000 people - mostly Druze - has seen deadly clashes between Druze militias and Sunni Bedouin tribes since Sunday, prompting many Bedouin families to flee.
The U.K.-based war monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, has accused government forces of executing 83 Druze civilians, raising concerns of possible war crimes.
The situation briefly de-escalated after international mediation and an Israeli airstrike on Syrian government targets, but violence has since resumed.
Israeli aid package
In a show of support, Israel announced an emergency humanitarian aid package worth 2 million shekels ($590,000) for the Druze in Sweida.
The aid includes food, medical supplies, and first aid kits, and will be airdropped into affected Druze areas.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel has a duty to protect the Druze, and underlined the group's unique status in Israeli society.
The Druze serve in the Israeli military, unlike Muslim and Christian Arabs.
The Druze in Sweida province have enjoyed considerable autonomy, even during Syria's civil war, and many were supporters of former Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Many of them are sceptical of the Sunni Islamist-led transitional government now in charge in Damascus.
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