The government forces of Syria prepared to re-enter the southern city of Sweida to quell the renewed clashes between Druze armed groups and the Bedouin tribes, major media outlets reported on Friday.
The government forces withdrew from the province of Sweida in response to a U.S.-Arab mediation effort aimed at de-escalating the deadly violence.
Previously, the Syrian interim authorities accused unlawful forces in Sweida of violating the ceasefire and committing horrific crimes in a statement on Thursday. It also warned Israel not to interfere in Syria's internal affairs.
Israel launched waves of strikes on Damascus and Sweida on Monday and Wednesday, claiming that its aim was to prevent the Druze minority from being harmed.
The escalation began Sunday after armed members of a Bedouin tribe in the countryside of Sweida, a predominantly Druze province, reportedly assaulted and robbed a young Druze man near the town of al-Masmiyah, along the Damascus-Sweida highway. The brutal attack sparked retaliatory kidnappings, spiraling into full-scale clashes between local Druze fighters, government troops, and Bedouin militias.
Syrian government forces prepare to re-enter Sweida to quell Druze tribal clashes
Protesters filled Mexico City's Paseo de la Reforma on Saturday, rallying in solidarity with Venezuela and denouncing U.S. influence in Latin America.
The United States launched a large-scale military operation against Venezuela in the early hours of Jan 3, taking by force Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Holding numerous flags and banners while chanting slogans intermittently, a huge crowd of protesters criticized U.S. military actions against Venezuela and the unlawful control over President Maduro and his spouse, calling for respect for national sovereignty and regional peace.
"We oppose the U.S. intervention and hegemony towards the countries in Latin America. The United States has flagrantly trampled on international law, bombed Caracas and kidnapped the Maduro couple. The U.S. interventionism has become extremely blatant. We must firmly oppose and be highly vigilant, because this is not only related to a certain country, but also to all countries," said a protester.
"We demand that the United States stop interfering in Venezuela's internal affairs. The country must immediately cease its exploitation and plundering of the countries in Latin America," said another protester.
Protest erupts in Mexico City over US military operation in Venezuela
