30 killed in armed clashes in Syria

Armed clashes between Druze and Bedouin groups in the southern Syrian province of As-Suwayda have killed 30 people and injured about 100, the Syrian Interior Ministry said.

According to the ministry, the incidents took place in the Makaus region, amid the absence of state institutions and a continuing security vacuum.

“The ongoing violence is causing growing concern among society, despite numerous calls for a de-escalation,” the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry stressed that it poses an immediate threat to the civilian population. In this regard, Interior Ministry forces, in coordination with the country’s Defense Ministry, have been sent to the area to stabilize the situation.

According to local sources, the armed clash began after representatives of both sides seized each other’s vehicles. The conflict quickly escalated into fierce battles with the use of heavy weapons.