The war in southern Syria took additional dramatic turns as a massive offensive by Bedouin and Arab tribal militias of Syria pushed Druze forces back toward Sweida city, with an enormous wave of tribal fighters recruited from across the country flooding the southern province.
According to a diplomatic source, Israel agreed to allow Syrian regime interior forces to enter the area to maintain order. It remains unclear at this stage what type of force is involved and the scope of the entry.
The tribal fighters were recruited after the Council of Sheikhs of the Bedouin tribes last night called for general mobilization and went into battle against Druze militias in the southern Sweida province. The tribal militias succeeded in capturing at least three large Druze villages, and fighters began setting fire to houses belonging to Druze residents. Thousands of civilians fled the battle zone, northwest of Sweida city.
So far, no Israeli involvement in the developing fighting in the south has been recorded, and it remains unclear whether Israel will assist its Druze allies as it did against the Syrian regime. Damascus denied reports that regime forces would advance back into the Sweida area to enforce order and said they were abiding by ceasefire terms.
