As violence broke out last week between two ethnic groups in southern Syria, both the Israeli and Syrian governments intervened.

The US State Department said Monday that an American citizen was killed during the unrest in the southern Syrian city of Suwayda last week.

Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa's government responded by deploying forces to the city. Druze residents of Suweida told the BBC they had witnessed "barbaric acts" as gunmen - government forces and foreign fighters - attacked people. Israel targeted these forces, saying they were acting to protect the Druze.