In the strife-torn southern Syrian province of Al-Suwayda, members of the Druze community are sounding the alarm over what they describe as an “ethnic cleansing campaign,” following a week of deadly violence that has killed hundreds and forced tens of

Druze fighters had pushed out rival armed factions from the city on Saturday, a monitor said, after the government ordered a ceasefire following a US-brokered deal to avert further Israeli military intervention.

Video showed government forces on the streets of a predominantly Druze city and smoke billowing across roads as gunfire sounded.

Government forces that were initially sent to restore order but effectively sided with the Bedouins against the Druze were redeployed to halt renewed fighting that erupted Thursday in the southern province of Sweida. The violence also drew airstrikes against Syrian forces by neighboring Israel before a truce was reached.

Members of Syria's Druze community are searching for loved ones and counting their dead after days of clashes in a southern province that left bloodied bodies of civilians on the streets and homes looted.

Late on Saturday, the interior ministry said clashes in Sweida city had been halted and the area cleared of Bedouin tribal fighters following the deployment.