SWEIDA (Reuters) -A leading Druze spiritual leader accused the Syrian leadership in Damascus of bombarding the southern city of Sweida despite having reached an agreement to quell violence, and he called on fighters to confront Syrian troops entering the city.

The Druze are a prominent religious community of more than a million people spread across Syria, Lebanon and Israel, who for centuries have sought to preserve a distinct identity.In Syria, Druze fighters have clashed both with neighbouring Bedouin tribes and with forces loyal to the Islamist government,

Sweida spirals into violence as Syrian forces execute 12 Druze civilians, triggering mass protests and Israeli strikes. With 116+ dead in sectarian clashes, the crisis exposes Syria's fragile post-Assad fractures and growing international intervention.

Syria’s defense minister has announced a ceasefire after government forces entered a key city in Sweida province on Tuesday