Claim comes after a new truce between Druze and Bedouin groups in Suwayda and a US-brokered deal to end Israeli strikes.

Israeli leaders said they launched attacks on Syria this week to protect members of the Druze religious group in the country’s south, amid clashes in the area.

Israel's attacks on Syrian territory served other purposes than to protect the Druze minority, observers say. What is driving Benjamin Netanyahu's agenda in Syria?

Intervention by Syrian security forces to contain the escalation in Druze-majority Suwayda province has been met with resistance from the local Druze community.

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.

Poor infrastructure, regional conflict and sporadic Israeli airstrikes are holding back more airlines from returning to Syria, industry officials told Reuters, hampering efforts to rebuild a shattered economy after 14 years of civil war.

Syria on Friday denied its security forces were returning to the southern Druze-majority city of Sweida, after reports quoted officials as saying troops were being sent to ensure stability and protect state institutions.

Secretary of State Rubio says the U.S. is "very concerned" by expanding Israeli strikes targeting Syria's new government, and he wants "the fighting to stop."

Israel carried out strikes against Syrian government forces in southwestern Syria for a second day on Tuesday, vowing to keep the area demilitarized and to protect the Druze minority as deadly clashes continued in the region at the Israeli frontier.