Bedouin fighters positioned outside the southern Syrian city of Suweida have told the BBC they will observe a ceasefire with the Druze community there, but have not ruled out resuming hostilities.
The Bedouin fighters have retreated from the city to surrounding villages in the province after a week of deadly sectarian clashes between Druze fighters, Bedouins and government forces, with Israel carrying out air strikes in support of the Druze.
On Sunday a UK-based monitoring group said there was a “cautious calm” in the region – but later said tribal fighters had attacked villages.
From the town of al-Mazara’a – a Druze town until last week when it was taken over by the Bedouin and now under Syrian government control – smoke could be seen across the fields rising from Suweida city.
At a nearby checkpoint a mound of dirt cut across the road. Dozens of government security personnel were standing along it, all heavily armed and blocking the Bedouin from re-entering the city.
Hundreds of Bedouin fighters, many firing guns into the air, crowded the road.
They want the release of injured Bedouin people still in the city of Suweida, who they refer to as hostages. Otherwise, they say, they will force their way past the checkpoint and head back into the city.
“We did what the government have ordered us and we are committed to the agreement, and the government words and we came back, Suweida is 35km far from here,” a tribal elder told the BBC.
“Currently our hostages and wounded are there, they are refusing to give us anyone… If they don’t commit to the agreement we are going to enter again, even if Suweida will become our cemetery.”