#SkyNews: "The death toll from clashes in As-Suwayda has exceeded 1,000"

Armed clashes in the southern Syrian province of As-Suwayda have killed 298 civilians since July 13, bringing the total death toll to 1,119, Sky News Arabia reported, citing health sources.

According to the channel, 427 fighters from the Druze self-defense units were killed. The special forces of the Ministry of Interior and Defense, sent from Damascus to the southern regions to restore stability, lost 354 soldiers, and pro-government Arab groups lost 21 militiamen. Another 19 members of the Internal Security Forces were killed as a result of Israeli airstrikes.

Recall that on July 19, Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced a ceasefire in As-Suwayda in accordance with a settlement plan developed with the participation of international mediators. The prisoner exchange scheduled for July 20, however, was disrupted by renewed clashes in some areas between Bedouins and supporters of the radical Syrian Druze leader Sheikh Hikmet al-Hajari.

Sheikh al-Hajari's supporters prevented the entry of a government delegation into the province, which was accompanying humanitarian aid shipments. The Syrian authorities condemned these provocative actions.