Syrian Army Deploys Drones Against Druze Militia in As-Suwayda

Syrian government forces used unmanned aerial vehicles to strike positions held by Druze fighters in the southern city of As-Suwayda on 15 July, according to video footage and accounts circulating among conflict monitors. The clips show Shaheen-class drones dropping munitions on vehicles identified with the Suwayda Military Council, a Druze militia that has clashed intermittently with state forces. The attack marks one of the clearest instances this year of the Syrian Arab Army employing armed drones against Druze groups in the largely government-controlled province. Neither Damascus nor representatives of the Suwayda Military Council immediately issued casualty figures or official statements.