Syrian security forces were sent to villages on the outskirts of Sweida on Saturday as sectarian clashes between Druze and Bedouin fighters continued despite a ceasefire announced earlier in the day.
Fighting persisted in the Druze-majority city of Sweida on Saturday afternoon, with video showing plumes of black smoke rising over the city amid heavy gunfire and shelling.
There were no immediate reports of casualties from the renewed violence.
A witness described the situation in Sweida as “catastrophic, with homes burnt, bodies in the streets, and Bedouin fighters roaming on scooters. The witness told The National that tribal fighters had entered the centre of the city on Saturday, following days of clashes on its outskirts.
Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara said the clashes in the Druze heartland of Sweida over the past week constituted a “dangerous turning point” that was worsened by Israeli intervention.
In his first address since a ceasefire was announced, Mr Al Shara said the violent clashes were “about to spiral out of control” had it not been for the intervention of Syrian forces.
“The recent events witnessed in Sweida have marked a dangerous turning point,” the Syrian leader said after his seven-month rule witnessed several waves of bloody sectarian fighting.
Days of violence in Sweida were marked by widespread reports of assaults, especially against the Druze community.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it received “distress calls” from residents who were facing “severe shortages of food, clean water, electricity and medical care”.
“The humanitarian situation in Sweida is critical,” said Stephane Sakalian, head of the ICRC delegation in Syria.
The UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria has said it is “deeply alarmed” by the violence in Sweida, quoting reports from local residents of “killings, abductions, burning of properties and looting, as well as an increase in incitement and hate speech online and in person”.
A spokesperson for the interior ministry said on Saturday that “the kidnapped and detainees will be released from Sweida in co-ordination with local forces and government officials”.
Sectarian clashes in Syria’s Sweida province began last week as tit-for-tat attacks between Bedouin tribal factions and Druze fighters.
The violence quickly escalated into indiscriminate bloodshed, drawing in government forces, which were accused of widespread violations against the Druze community, and Israel, which launched a series of strikes in southern Syria and on Damascus.
Israeli intervention
On Wednesday, Israel attacked the Ministry of Defence and the presidential palace, in what it claimed was an effort to “defend” the Druze community. But diplomats and analysts said its goal is to weaken the new Syrian authorities
“The Israeli intervention has renewed tensions and pushed the country into a dangerous phase that threatens its stability as a result of the blatant bombing of the south and government institutions in Damascus,” Mr Al Shara said, shortly after his office announced an “immediate ceasefire” in the southern province.
The Israeli military said on Saturday that dozens of Israeli citizens crossed the border with Syria into Majdal Shams, a Druze village in the occupied Golan Heights.
It said the Israeli citizens used violence against Israeli forces trying to disperse a gathering in the area overnight.
Early on Saturday, US envoy to Damascus Tom Barrack announced a ceasefire between Israel and Syria. He also called on the Druze and Bedouin factions to put their weapons down.
Mr Barrack met Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Saturday in Ankara to discuss the situation in Syria, including efforts to consolidate the ceasefire in Sweida.
Mr Safadi condemned Israeli strikes on Syria as “violations of international law”, and warned they threaten Syria’s stability and civilian safety.
Mr Al Shara thanked the US for its support and for “affirming its stance alongside Syria in these difficult circumstances”.
He also vowed to protect minorities in the country. “The Syrian state is committed to protecting all minorities and communities in the country … We condemn all crimes committed” in Sweida, he said.
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Saturday dismissed his renewed pledge to protect minorities after deadly sectarian clashes, saying it was “very dangerous” to be a minority in the country.
The international community had “a duty to ensure the security and rights of the minorities in Syria and to condition Syria's renewed acceptance into the family of nations on their protection”, he added.
Bloody week
While the Syrian government announced an end to its military offensive in Sweida on Wednesday, sectarian violence erupted again on Thursday evening as Bedouin clashed with Druze militia in the south-western region.
Clashes broke again when Druze fighters launched retaliatory attacks on Bedouin communities, according to Syria's National news agency, Sana.
On Friday, Bedouin fighters took control of Mazraa, a Druze-majority town on the city’s outskirts, torching homes and leaving behind graffiti accusing the Druze of being “collaborators”.
Many described harrowing scenes as they ventured back into the streets after days of confinement amid indiscriminate shelling.
The UN's migration agency said on Friday that nearly 80,000 people had been displaced by sectarian violence.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitor, at least 718 people have been killed in Sweida in about a week of violence.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
Teaching in coronavirus times
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More on Quran memorisation:
LAST 16 DRAW
Borussia Dortmund v PSG
Real Madrid v Manchester City
Atalanta v Valencia
Atletico Madrid v Liverpool
Chelsea v Bayern Munich
Lyon v Juventus
Tottenham v Leipzig
Napoli v Barcelona
The years Ramadan fell in May
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
More on animal trafficking
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELong-range%20dual%20motor%20with%20400V%20battery%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E360kW%20%2F%20483bhp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E840Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20automatic%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20touring%20range%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20628km%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E0-100km%2Fh%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204.7sec%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETop%20speed%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20210kph%20%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh360%2C000%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeptember%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
MATCH INFO
Tottenham Hotspur 0 Everton 1 (Calvert-Lewin 55')
Man of the Match Allan (Everton)
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Normal People
Sally Rooney, Faber & Faber
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
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'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
More coverage from the Future Forum
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
