Syria’s defence minister announced a ceasefire as government forces entered a key city in Sweida province on Tuesday. The announcement came a day after sectarian clashes that killed dozens, and Israel reportedly launched a strike in the area.

Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra said that after an “agreement with the city’s notables and dignitaries, we will respond only to the sources of fire and deal with any targeting by outlaw groups.”

Clashes began with a series of kidnappings and attacks between members of local Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze armed factions in the southern province, a centre of the Druze community.