The Druze of Syria—numbering under one million—have historically maintained a delicate balance between cooperation and quiet resistance to the Assad regime. Suwayda has been one of the few regions to avoid full-scale regime control during the civil war. However, recent economic protests and growing demands for autonomy have made it a flashpoint.

Israel carried out a series of powerful strikes on the Syrian capital Damascus Wednesday, escalating a campaign it says is in support of an Arab minority group involved in deadly clashes with Syrian government forces.

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