members of the Druze community and security forces killed dozens of people in April and May. The Syri-an Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, said at least eight people were killed, six Druze and two Bedouin.

Citing medical sources, local outlet Sweida 24 gave a preliminary toll of seven people killed, “including a child, and about 32 others wounded as a result of armed clashes and mutual shelling in the Maqus neighbourhood”, east of Sweida city. It also reported the closure of the Damascus-Sweida highway be-cause of the violence. A Syrian government source, speaking anonymously to AFP news agency, said authorities sent soldiers to de-escalate the situation.

Sweida Governor Mustapha al-Bakour called on people to “exercise self-restraint and respond to nation-al calls for reform”. Syria’s Druze population numbers about 700,000, with Sweida home to the sect’s largest community. Bedouin and Druze factions have a longstanding feud in Sweida, with violence occa-sionally erupting.

Since the overthrow of longtime Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad in December, concerns have been raised over the rights and safety of minorities under the new authorities, who have also struggled to re-establish security more broadly. Clashes between troops and Druze fighters in April and May killed doz-ens of people, with local leaders and religious figures signing agreements to contain the escalation and better integrate Druze fighters into the new government. (Aljazeera)