by & nbspoman al yahyai & nbspwith & nbspAP
It’s published •update
At least 30 people have been killed and nearly 100 injured in a violent clash between local militias and tribal factions in South Sweida, according to the Syrian Home Ministry.
The violence that erupted over the weekend continued on Monday as government forces deployed to restore order were drawn in to confront local armed groups.
The Syrian Human Rights Observatory, a UK-based WAR monitor, said at least 50 people were killed in the battle, including two children and six security forces, reporting higher casualties.
The unrest began with a series of fast temptations between the religious minority of the Druze and members of the Sunni Bedouin clan.
According to the observatory, hostilities were caused when Bedouin tribes established a checkpoint, where they attacked and robbed the young Druze vegetable vendor.
The incident caused retaliatory aid on both sides.
“Several clashes have occurred in armed groups, but our troops are doing their best to prevent civilian casualties,” Interior Ministry spokesman Noureddine Al-Baba told state-run Al-Ikhbariya TV, confirming that security forces entered the city on Monday.
The Home Office called the situation a dangerous escalation and condemned the deterioration of security in relation to the “absence of related public bodies.”
Israel and Druze minority
The Israeli Army also said it struck military tanks in southern Syria on Monday but did not give any further details about the nature of the operation.
Israel previously intervened in Syria to defend the minority.
In May, Israeli forces attacked the site near the Presidential Palace in Damascus.
The strike comes earlier this year after dozens were killed in fighting between government gunmen and Druze fighters in the town of Sanaya and in the outskirts of Deleuze Majoritidamascus, outside Jaramana.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and subsequently Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement at the time that Israel “will not allow deployment of (Syrian government) forces south of Damascus or threats to the Druze community.”
In Israel, Druzes are considered a loyal minority and often serves the army.
Druze, an esoteric group that split from Ismaili Syism in the 10th century, is concentrated in certain Damascus suburbs such as Sweida, Jaramana and Ashrafiat Sanaya.
During Syria’s 14-year civil war, the Druze factions formed their own militia, and remained largely self-governed.
Since the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Druze has been divided over whether to settle with the new government in Damascus.
Earlier this year, some Druze groups clashed with security forces alongside current authorities.
Syrian observatory further complicates the dynamics of the already volatile local power, claiming that government forces were on the side of the Bedouins in several conflicts.
