Ethnic conflict erupts again in Syria

Damascus [Syria], July 19: Reuters reported yesterday (July 18) that clashes between Bedouin and Druze groups in the southern Syrian province of Sweida flared up again late on July 17. The Syrian presidential palace on July 17 accused the Druze of violating the ceasefire. On July 16, the Syrian army began withdrawing from Sweida after the ceasefire was announced.
In addition, Syria 's SANA news agency reported new Israeli airstrikes near the city of Sweida on July 17. However, an Israeli military spokesman yesterday said he was unaware of the new airstrikes as reported by SANA, according to AFP.Bloody clashes in Sweida province that have lasted since last weekend have left nearly 600 people dead, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Israel intervened under the pretext of protecting the Druze, saying it would not allow the Syrian government to deploy troops south and has attacked Syrian troops in Sweida, and near the presidential palace in the capital Damascus.
In another development, NBC News on July 17 cited a new US intelligence report saying that the Fordow nuclear facility was severely damaged and likely destroyed after the US attack on three nuclear facilities in Iran last month. The other two facilities, Natanz and Isfahan, were not damaged as severely, but other structures, which play an important role in the production of nuclear weapons at these two places, were destroyed and could take years to rebuild, according to the new intelligence report.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper