STORY: Syrian security forces who deployed in the city of Sweida were checking vehicles at a checkpoint on Wednesday (July 16).

Syrian government troops were dispatched to the Sweida region on Monday (July 15) to quell fighting between Druze fighters and Bedouin armed men but ended up clashing with the Druze militias themselves.

Local news outlet Sweida24 said the city of Sweida and nearby villages were coming under heavy artillery and mortar fire early on Wednesday. Syria's defence ministry, in a statement carried by state news agency SANA, blamed outlaw groups in Sweida for breaching the truce.

The defence ministry called on residents of the city to stay indoors. Some residents that Reuters was able to reach by phone said they were holed up at home in fear with no electricity.

Syria's state media and witnesses said Israeli strikes throughout Wednesday struck the predominantly Druze city of Sweida, where a fourth day of fighting swiftly collapsed a ceasefire announced the previous evening.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Syrian security forces deploy in Sweida, inspect vehicles at checkpoint

VIDEO SHOWS: SYRIAN MILITARY POLICE AT CHECKPOINT IN SWEIDA / VARIOUS OF SYRIAN SECURITY FORCES DEPLOYED / SYRIAN SECURITY FORCES INSIDE AN APARTMENT POINTING GUNS THROUGH WINDOWS / SOUNDBITE FROM THE COMMANDER OF A DIVISION IN THE SYRIAN SECURITY FORCES

RESENDING WITH FULL SCRIPT.

SHOWS: SWEIDA, SYRIA (JULY 16, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF MEMBERS OF THE SYRIAN MILITARY POLICE CHECKING VEHICLES AT CHECKPOINT

2. VARIOUS OF BELONGINGS ON THE GROUND NEXT TO SYRIAN MILITARY POLICE STANDING GUARD

3. PARKED PICKUP TRUCK

4. VARIOUS OF TRAVELLING SHOTS SHOWING SYRIAN SECURITY FORCES PATROLLING / SMOKE RISING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD

5. VARIOUS OF SYRIAN SECURITY FORCES ATOP VEHICLES

6. COMMANDER OF THE 40TH DIVISION IN THE SYRIAN SECURITY FORCES, ABDELNASSER GHAZI, STANDING NEXT TO MEMBERS OF SYRIAN SECURITY FORCES

7. GHAZI TALKING TO SYRIAN SECURITY FORCES MEMBERS, SAYING (Arabic): 'There are people here, residents of Damascus...'

8. GHAZI STANDING

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) COMMANDER OF THE 40TH DIVISION IN THE SYRIAN SECURITY FORCES, ABDELNASSER GHAZI, SAYING:

"After the rise of outlaw groups in Sweida province, and the attack on the public security convoy and the assault on civilians in Sweida Governorate, we - the Ministry of Defence, the 40th Division - supported the General Security to restore security and safety to Sweida province, comb it of terrorist groups, secure civilians, and restore security and safety to Sweida province."

10. VARIOUS OF SYRIAN SECURITY FORCES EATING WATERMELON

11. SYRIAN SECURITY FORCES FIRING IN THE AIR

12. SYRIAN SECURITY FORCES STANDING IN FRONT OF A TANK

13. SYRIAN SECURITY FORCES ATOP A TANK

14. VARIOUS OF SYRIAN SECURITY FORCES TAKING POSITION INSIDE AN APARTMENT AND POINTING GUNS THROUGH WINDOWS