Fifteen Druze fighters have been killed in an ambush near the Syrian capital,the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Thursday, following days of deadly sectarian violence involving members of the Druze minority and Islamist groups linked to the country's transitional authorities.
Assailants killed 15 fighters from theDruzeminority in an ambush near the Syrian capital, a war monitor said Thursday, after days of deadly sectarian clashes.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a network of sources on the ground inSyria, said the attack was carried out on Wednesday by forces linked to the Islamist-led government as the Druze fighters were travelling to the town of Sahnaya.
The deadly ambush was also reported by local media outlet Suweyda 24.
The latest reported casualties followtwo days of deadly sectarian clashesin the suburbs ofDamascusthat left at least 40 people dead, according to the monitor and Syrian state media.
Read moreDeadly clashes in Damascus plunge Syria's Druze minority into uncertainty
According to rescue workers and security sources, the violence was sparked by a voice recording attributed to a Druze manostensiblycursing the Prophet Mohammedthatwas widely shared on social media and which Druze leaders say was fabricated.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Originally published on France24
