Photos show Druze and Bedouin clashes in southern Syria

BUSRA AL-HARIR, Syria (AP) — Injured government soldiers and civilians were treated after clashes broke out between Druze militiamen and Sunni Bedouin tribes in Syria’s southern Sweida province, threatening to unravel the country’s post-war transition.

Thousands of people remained displaced by the violence and the United Nations has been unable to bring in much-needed humanitarian and medical aid.

The conflict had drawn airstrikes by neighboring Israel in defense of the Druze. In Israel, the Druze are seen as a loyal minority and often serve in the armed forces.

The Druze developed their own militias during Syria’s nearly 14-year civil war, and some of them have had tense relations with Syria’s new government after the fall of former President Bashar Assad in a lightning rebel offensive in December led by Sunni Islamist insurgent groups.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

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