The Latest Breaking News from Sweida

Syrian government forces have started withdrawing from the southern province of Sweida following days of vicious clashes with militias from the Druze minority

The Syrian government announced Thursday that local leaders would assume control over security in the city of Sweida in an attempt to end violence that has claimed hundreds of lives and prompted Israel's military intervention in support of the Druze minority.

Earlier on Wednesday, Israeli forces struck the Syrian General Staff compound in Damascus, citing concerns over violence against the Druze minority. Two civilians were injured in the airstrike.

The mainly Druze residents of the Syrian city of Sweida had hoped the arrival of government forces on Tuesday would spell an end to deadly sectarian clashes with local Bedouin tribes.

Injured government soldiers and civilians were treated after Syrian troops moved into the city of Sweida and surrounding areas after clashes broke out between Druze militiamen and Sunni Bedouin tribes in southern Sweida province.

Fighting erupts in the Druze-majority Sweida city in southern Syria

The unrest in Syria's Sweida province began with tit-for-tat kidnappings between members of the Druze minority and Sunni Bedouins.

Syria’s defense minister has announced a ceasefire after government forces entered a key city in Sweida province on Tuesday

Syrian government forces entered the majority Druze city of Sweida on Tuesday, the interior ministry said, aiming to end clashes with Bedouin tribes that have killed nearly 100 people.