JERUSALEM, July 14 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli military said Monday it struck several Syrian army tanks in southern Syria, amid escalating clashes between Druze militias and Bedouin tribes in southern Syria's Sweida province.
In a statement, the military said it identified Syrian tanks advancing between al-Mazra'ah and Sami' towards Sweida, and carried out strikes "to prevent their arrival in the area."
"The presence of these assets in southern Syria may pose a threat to the State of Israel," the statement said, adding that it "will not allow the establishment of a military threat in southern Syria and will operate against it."
The military said it continues monitoring developments in the area.
Earlier on Monday, Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 89 people were killed and some 200 others injured over the past two days in escalating clashes between Druze militias and Bedouin tribes in Sweida.
Meanwhile, the Syrian defense authority, in a statement carried by the state-run SANA news agency, put the death toll at more than 30 and the injuries at some 100.
Specialized military units have been deployed to separate warring factions and secure civilian evacuation routes, read the statement.
The root of the conflict lies in an earlier incident in which a young Druze man was assaulted and robbed by armed Bedouins at a temporary checkpoint near al-Masmiyah. In retaliation, local Druze fighters detained several Bedouin members, escalating the situation.
Israel has previously intervened in fighting in Syria, saying it was acting to defend the Druze minority, which it views as an ally. ■
