Armed tribes supported by Syria's Islamist-led government clashed with Druze fighters outside Sweida Friday a day after government troops withdrew from the Druze-majority city, the warring parties and a monitoring group said.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported "clashes west of Sweida pitting tribal fighters and Bedouin supported by the authorities on one side, against Druze fighters on the other".
Combatants on both sides confirmed the clashes and AFP correspondents reported hearing exchanges of fire.
Syrian government forces withdrew from Sweida province on Thursday after coming under heavy bombardment by Israel.
The pullout from Syria's Druze heartland came on the orders of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who said mediation by the United States and others had helped avert a "large-scale escalation" with Israel.
Nearly 600 people have been killed in Sweida province since Sunday, according to the Observatory, as Druze fighters clashed with Sunni Bedouin tribes, who were later joined by government forces.
A ceasefire took effect on Thursday, but Sharaa's office accused Druze groups of violating the agreement.
Tribal fighters gathered around Sweida on Friday to reinforce the Bedouin, positioning themselves in several villages near the city.
AFP correspondents heard intermittent gunfire and explosions and saw smoke rising from the villages.
Druze fighters told AFP they were responding to the sources of fire.
Anas al-Enad, a tribal chief from the central city of Hama, said he and his men had made the journey to the village of Walgha, northwest of Sweida, because "the Bedouin called for our help and we came to support them".
By AFP
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