DAMASCUS, July 22 (Xinhua) -- An Israeli drone strike hit a convoy of tribal fighters in the city of Shahba in the northern countryside of Sweida province late Monday, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.
Casualties were reported, though the exact number remains unclear.
The airstrike marked a sharp escalation in the already tense situation in southern Syria, where clashes between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribal groups have continued despite a fragile ceasefire.
Separately, breaches to the ceasefire were also reported in the nearby town of Umm al-Zeitoun, further fueling concerns about renewed military escalation in Shahba and adjacent areas.
The latest flare-up came amid an atmosphere of heightened insecurity in Sweida, while warplanes and reconnaissance drones were reported flying over the region.
The violence has persisted despite attempts by Syrian interim authorities and international mediators to enforce a ceasefire brokered last week. The terms included mutual prisoner releases and a gradual withdrawal of tribal forces from Sweida, but repeated violations have cast doubt over its sustainability. ■
