Intense fighting has gripped the city of Suwayda in southern Syria this week. It broke out between the new Syrian regime’s forces, armed groups of the Druze minority and other militias. And the Israeli terror state launched air strikes on Syria under the guise of protecting Druze people, who are a majority in Suwayda.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a U.K.-based war monitor, said the clashes started after members of a Bedouin tribe in Sweida province set up a checkpoint where they attacked and robbed a Druze man, leading to tit-for-tat attacks and kidnappings between the tribes and Druze armed groups.

At least 18 members of Syria's security forces have been killed in the predominantly Druze city of Sweida, the Defence Ministry said, after they deployed to quell deadly sectarian clashes that had resumed on Monday,

Israel says it is intervening to protect Syria’s Druze residents who have strong ties to Israel’s Druze community. Damascus called the attack a violation of sovereignty.