Druze leaders have urged local fighters in Sweida to resist incoming Syrian government forces as violence continues to escalate in the southern governorate.
Syria’s state news agency said Israel had also launched air strikes on Sweida, which has witnessed days of fighting between Druze armed groups and Bedouin fighters.
The clashes erupted after a Druze merchant was reportedly abducted on a highway to Damascus.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor, at least 99 people have been killed across the governorate.
A curfew was set to be imposed in Sweida to stem the violence, while Syrian military columns could be seen heading into the governorate on Tuesday.
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The Syrian Ministry of Defence said they had entered the city, and called on people to “stay home and report any movements of outlaw groups”.
Earlier on Tuesday, the spiritual leaders of the Druze community said in a written statement that it would allow Syrian forces to enter Sweida city to stop the violence.
The statement called for armed groups to surrender their weapons and cooperate with incoming troops.
But just hours later, Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri released a video statement in which he said the initial statement had been “imposed” on them and accused the government of bombarding the city with artillery.
“We are being subject to a total war of extermination,” he said.
He called on locals “to confront this barbaric campaign with all means available”.
Al-Arabiya later reported that government forces had begun withdrawing their heavy vehicles from Sweida.
Post-war violence
Syria has seen a range of sectarian violence across the country in the wake of the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad in December after 14 years of war.
The worst violence has been seen in the western governorate of Latakia, where more than a thousand members of the Alawite minority were killed after clashes broke out between government-aligned forces and armed groups sympathetic to Assad.
Syria: Dozens killed in clashes between Druze militias and Bedouin groups
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However, the Druze community in Sweida have also become increasingly concerned about the potential for violence under the new government, which is led by former members of an al-Qaeda-linked group that once carried out sectarian killings of Druze villagers.
The SOHR said the dead since Sunday has included 60 Druze – including four civilians – 18 Bedouin fighters, 14 security personnel and seven unidentified people in military uniforms.
The Syrian Ministry of Defence also reported 18 deaths amongst the armed forces.
On Monday, Israel’s military said it had carried out several strikes on tanks approaching Sweida “to prevent their arrival to the area,” claiming they could pose a threat to Israel.
Further air strikes were reported on Tuesday.
While citing its own security concerns, Israel has also justified its attacks on southern Syria by saying it has a duty to protect minority groups.
