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Perth Now
a day ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Attacks on Syria forces amid sectarian clashes kills 16
Sixteen members of Syria's security forces have been killed in the predominantly Druze city of Sweida, the defence ministry says, after they deployed to quell deadly sectarian clashes that local media reported had resumed. Sunday's fighting between Druze militiamen and Bedouin tribal fighters was the first time that sectarian violence erupted inside the city of Sweida itself, following months of tensions in the broader province. In a statement to Reuters, the defence ministry said "outlawed groups," which it did not identify further, had attacked a number of its units at dawn. It said its forces responded to the attack and had pursued those groups that refused to halt hostilities and continued to target security forces. The fighting on Sunday left 30 people dead and prompted Syria's security forces to deploy units to the city to restore calm and guarantee safe passage for civilians looking to leave, the defence ministry said in an earlier statement. But intense clashes broke out again on Monday, local news outlet Sweida24 reported. Another security source said that Syrian troops would aim to exert state control over the whole province to prevent any more violence but that this could take several days. It marked the latest episode of sectarian bloodshed in Syria, where fears among minority groups have surged since jihadist-led rebels toppled president Bashar al-Assad in December, installing their own government and security forces. Sunni Muslim Arab rebel groups which fought Assad during the war agreed in December to dissolve into the defence ministry but efforts to integrate armed factions from minority groups - including Druze and Kurds - have largely stalled. In southern Syria, efforts have been further complicated by Israel's stated policy that it would not allow Syria's new army to deploy south of Damascus and that Sweida and neighbouring provinces should make up a demilitarised zone. Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab said in a written statement carried on state media that the "absence of state institutions, especially military and security institutions, is a major cause of the ongoing tensions in Sweida and its countryside". Sunday's violence erupted after a wave of kidnappings, including the abduction of a Druze merchant on Friday on the highway linking Damascus to Sweida, witnesses said.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Attacks on Syrian security forces sent to quell sectarian clashes leave 16 dead
Find out what's new on ST website and app. DAMASCUS - Sixteen members of Syria's security forces have been killed in the predominantly Druze city of Sweida, the defence ministry said, after they deployed to quell deadly sectarian clashes that local media reported had resumed on Monday. Sunday's fighting between Druze militiamen and Bedouin tribal fighters was the first time that sectarian violence erupted inside the city of Sweida itself, following months of tensions in the broader province. In a statement to Reuters, the defence ministry said "outlawed groups", which it did not identify further, had attacked a number of its units at dawn. It said its forces responded to the attack and had pursued those groups that refused to halt hostilities and continued to target security forces. The fighting on Sunday left 30 people dead and prompted Syria's security forces to deploy units to the city to restore calm and guarantee safe passage for civilians looking to leave, the defence ministry said in an earlier statement. But intense clashes broke out again on Monday, local news outlet Sweida24 reported. Another security source said that Syrian troops would aim to exert state control over the whole province to prevent any more violence, but that this could take several days. It marked the latest episode of sectarian bloodshed in Syria, where fears among minority groups have surged since Islamist-led rebels toppled President Bashar al-Assad in December, installing their own government and security forces. Sunni Muslim Arab rebel groups which fought Assad during the war agreed in December to dissolve into the defence ministry but efforts to integrate armed factions from minority groups - including Druze and Kurds - have largely stalled. In southern Syria, efforts have been further complicated by Israel's stated policy that it would not allow Syria's new army to deploy south of Damascus and that Sweida and neighbouring provinces should make up a demilitarized zone. Interior Minister Anas Khattab said in a written statement carried on state media that the "absence of state institutions, especially military and security institutions, is a major cause of the ongoing tensions in Sweida and its countryside." Sunday's violence erupted after a wave of kidnappings, including the abduction of a Druze merchant on Friday on the highway linking Damascus to Sweida, witnesses said. REUTERS
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First Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
Sunni-Druze clashes: 6 soldiers killed as Syria deploys forces to control sectarian violence
Sunday's fighting between Druze militiamen and Bedouin tribal fighters was the first time that sectarian violence erupted inside the city of Sweida itself, following months of tensions in the broader province read more Syrian government security forces sit on their armored vehicle at Busra al-Harir village in Daraa, as they prepare to enter Sweida province where clashes erupted between Druze militias and Sunni Bedouin clans, southern Syria. AP Six members of Syria's security forces have been killed in the predominantly Druze city of Sweida, a security source told Reuters, after they deployed to halt deadly sectarian clashes that local media reported had resumed on Monday. Sunday's fighting between Druze militiamen and Bedouin tribal fighters was the first time that sectarian violence erupted inside the city of Sweida itself, following months of tensions in the broader province. The fighting left 30 people dead and prompted Syria's security forces to deploy units to the city to restore calm and guarantee safe passage for civilians looking to leave, the defence ministry said in a statement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But intense clashes broke out again on Monday, local news outlet Sweida24 reported. At least six Syrian troops were subsequently killed, a defence ministry source told Reuters. More from World Jaishankar reminds China of SCO's core mission to combat terrorism, calls for strengthening ties It marked the latest episode of sectarian bloodshed in Syria, where fears among minority groups have surged since Islamist-led rebels toppled President Bashar al-Assad in December, installing their own government and security forces. Sunni Muslim Arab rebel groups which fought Assad during the war agreed in December to dissolve into the defence ministry but efforts to integrate armed factions from minority groups - including Druze and Kurds - have largely stalled. In southern Syria, efforts have been further complicated by Israel's stated policy that it would not allow Syria's new army to deploy south of Damascus and that Sweida and neighbouring provinces should make up a demilitarized zone. Interior Minister Anas Khattab said in a written statement carried on state media that the 'absence of state institutions, especially military and security institutions, is a major cause of the ongoing tensions in Sweida and its countryside.' Sunday's violence erupted after a wave of kidnappings, including the abduction of a Druze merchant on Friday on the highway linking Damascus to Sweida, witnesses said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Six Syrian security personnel killed after deploying to quell sectarian clashes, source says
Find out what's new on ST website and app. DAMASCUS - Six members of Syria's security forces have been killed in the predominantly Druze city of Sweida, a security source told Reuters, after they deployed to halt deadly sectarian clashes that local media reported had resumed on Monday. Sunday's fighting between Druze militiamen and Bedouin tribal fighters was the first time that sectarian violence erupted inside the city of Sweida itself, following months of tensions in the broader province. The fighting left 30 people dead and prompted Syria's security forces to deploy units to the city to restore calm and guarantee safe passage for civilians looking to leave, the defence ministry said in a statement. But intense clashes broke out again on Monday, local news outlet Sweida24 reported. At least six Syrian troops were subsequently killed, a defence ministry source told Reuters. It marked the latest episode of sectarian bloodshed in Syria, where fears among minority groups have surged since Islamist-led rebels toppled President Bashar al-Assad in December, installing their own government and security forces. Sunni Muslim Arab rebel groups which fought Assad during the war agreed in December to dissolve into the defence ministry but efforts to integrate armed factions from minority groups - including Druze and Kurds - have largely stalled. In southern Syria, efforts have been further complicated by Israel's stated policy that it would not allow Syria's new army to deploy south of Damascus and that Sweida and neighbouring provinces should make up a demilitarized zone. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore HSA intensifies crackdown on vapes; young suspected Kpod peddlers nabbed in Bishan, Yishun Singapore Man charged over distributing nearly 3 tonnes of vapes in one day in Bishan, Ubi Ave 3 Singapore High Court dismisses appeal of drink driver who killed one after treating Tampines road like racetrack Singapore Singapore to train more aviation and maritime officials from around the world Business Singapore's economy sees surprise expansion in Q2 despite US tariff uncertainty: Advance estimate Singapore 18 years' jail for woman who hacked adoptive father to death after tussle over Sengkang flat Singapore Jail, caning for man who had 285 child porn videos, including those that show infants Singapore Three power companies chosen to study carbon capture and storage to help Singapore decarbonise Interior Minister Anas Khattab said in a written statement carried on state media that the "absence of state institutions, especially military and security institutions, is a major cause of the ongoing tensions in Sweida and its countryside." Sunday's violence erupted after a wave of kidnappings, including the abduction of a Druze merchant on Friday on the highway linking Damascus to Sweida, witnesses said. REUTERS
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Syria sets deadline for 'small groups' to join Defence Ministry
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Syria's defence minister has called on small armed groups that have yet to merge with the security apparatus to do so within 10 days or face unspecified measures, in a bid to consolidate state authority six months after Bashar al-Assad was toppled.A plethora of weapons outside government control has posed a challenge to interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa 's efforts to establish control, as groups that both back him and oppose him remain Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra, in a statement late on Saturday, said "military units" had now been integrated into "a unified institutional framework", calling this a great achievement."We stress the need for the remaining small military groups to join the ministry within a maximum period of 10 days from the date of this announcement, in order to complete the efforts of unification and organisation," he did not say which factions he was talking statement did not seem aimed at the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a large Kurdish-led force in the northeast that signed an agreement with Sharaa earlier this year aimed at integration with state received a big diplomatic boost last week when U.S. President Donald Trump met Sharaa and announced sanctions on Syria would be lifted. Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab has said the decision would support efforts "to consolidate security and stability and promote civil peace in Syria and the region".Sunni Muslim Arab rebel groups which, like Sharaa's Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, fought Assad during the war agreed in December to dissolve into the Defence has faced several outbreaks of violence this March, Sunni militants killed hundreds of members of the Alawite minority in revenge killings prompted by what the government described as deadly attacks by Assad-loyalists on its forces in the coastal than 100 people were reported killed by fighting that erupted in late April in Druze areas near Damascus, pitting Sunni militants against Druze Syrian authorities conducted raids on Saturday targeting Islamic State cells in Aleppo.
