DAMASCUS (Reuters) -At least 18 members of Syria's security forces have been killed in the predominantly Druze city of Sweida, the Defence Ministry said, after they deployed to quell deadly sectarian clashes that had resumed on Monday,

Israel has struck military tanks in southern Syria as Syrian government forces and Bedouin tribes clash with Druze militias there.

The Druze, followers of an esoteric religion that split from Shi’ite Islam, are mainly found in Syria, Lebanon and Israel. Following deadly clashes with government forces in April and May, local and religious leaders reached an agreement with Damascus under which Druze fighters had been providing security in the province.