Syria has been wracked by a new wave of deadly sectarian violence that has placed the spotlight on the Druze minority at the center of rising tensions with Israel. Dozens of people were killed this week after clashes between government loyalists and Druze militias in the southern city of Suwayda,

Israel carried out strikes against them, saying it was acting to protect the Druze minority.

Sectarian fighting persisted in southern Syria on Tuesday, adding to a death toll that after three days of clashes has exceeded 160 people, according to observer groups.

The Interior Ministry called the situation a dangerous escalation, blaming the deterioration in security on “the absence of relevant official institutions,” which it said had deepened the chaos and hi...