According to sources, the gunmen were heading towards the town of Ashrafiet Sehnaya south of Damascus, which witnessed violent clashes between Syrian army and security forces on one side, and Druze gunmen on the other.

In a related context, the leader of the Druze community, Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri, called for the intervention of “international peacekeeping forces” in Syria, and denounced an “unjustified genocidal attack” against members of his community.

Calm returned the day before to the town of Ashrafiet Sehnaya, south of this capital, after violent clashes that left at least 22 dead.

During the clashes, Israeli fighter jets and drones carried out several bombings in the area in support of the armed Druze, killing military and security personnel, as well as injuring several civilians.

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