Children gathering water in Gaza when Israel claims “error”
Gaza’s civil defense agency says 43 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks, including markets and distribution points, as Israeli Hamas ceases to halt.
No Brands – News Value
Sweida, July 15 (Reuters) – Israel launched a strike against Syrian government forces in the Sweida region of southern Syria on Tuesday.
A Reuters reporter heard at least four strikes as drones were heard above the head and saw tanks towed from the city being towed.
The surge in violence, primarily in Druze City, is the latest challenge for interim president Ahmed Alshara, on the corner of Syria where Israel has vowed to protect Druze minorities.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have instructed the troops to “immediately attack the regime forces and weapons brought into the Sweida region.” They said in a statement.
“Israel is committed to preventing harm to Syrian Druze because of its deep brotherhood alliance with Israeli Druze citizens,” they said. “We are acting to prevent the Syrian regime from hurting them and to ensure demilitarization of the regions adjacent to the Syrian border.
Earlier on Tuesday, influential Druze leader Sheikh Hikumat al-Hajiri issued a statement accusing the Syrian government of violating the ceasefire and attacking the city, calling on fighters to stand up to government forces.
Syrian Defense Minister Mahaf Abu Kasra later issued a statement declaring a full ceasefire was in place, saying that government forces would only fire if fired.
(Reporting by Karam Masri of Sweeda, Halil Ashawi of Damascus, Maya Gebailey of Beirut, Written by Maya Gebailey and Tom Perry, Edited by Gareth Jones)
