France on Wednesday called for an end to “abuses targeting civilians” in Syria’s Sweida, after a war monitor accused government forces of summary executions and other abuses.
“The abuses targeting civilians, which we strongly condemn, must stop,” the foreign ministry said, calling for an “immediate cessation of clashes” and urging all sides to respect a ceasefire.
Syrian government forces entered the majority-Druze city of Sweida on Tuesday with the stated aim of overseeing a ceasefire agreed with Druze community leaders after clashes with local Bedouin tribes left more than 100 people dead.
But witnesses reported that government forces had joined the Bedouin in attacking Druze fighters and civilians in a rampage through the city.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor with sources inside Syria, said 21 Druze civilians had been killed “in summary executions by government forces” and allied groups.
Syria has been navigating a delicate transition since Islamist-led forces ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December after nearly 14 years of civil war.
“France supports the efforts of the Syrian transitional authorities and the leaders of the Sweida region to restore dialogue and hopes for a lasting agreement to strengthen the unity, stability, and sovereignty of Syria, as well as the safety of all Syrians,” Paris said.
French President Emmanuel Macron, in early May, urged visiting Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa to protect all people in the multi-confessional country, after killings that affected the Alawite and Druze minorities in previous months.
Later that month, the European Union announced it would lift economic sanctions on Syria in a bid to help the war-torn nation’s recovery.
But it also sanctioned three Syrian militia groups and two of their leaders over attacks mostly targeting the Alawite community associated with ousted leader Assad.
AFP
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