Sectarian violence erupted again in southern Syria as local Sunni Bedouin tribes fought armed factions for the Druze religious community. The Syrian government dispatched troops to restore order, and Israel launched airstrikes to protect the Druze.

Over 500 people people have been killed in southern Syria’s Sweida province, a war monitor said Thursday, giving an updated toll after several days of clashes that triggered the deployment of government forces.

Syria’s defense minister has announced a ceasefire after government forces entered a key city in Sweida province on Tuesday

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a U.K.-based war monitor, said the clashes started after members of a Bedouin tribe in Sweida province set up a checkpoint where they attacked and robbed a Druze man, leading to tit-for-tat attacks and kidnappings between the tribes and Druze armed groups.

Intense fighting has gripped the city of Suwayda in southern Syria this week. It broke out between the new Syrian regime’s forces, armed groups of the Druze minority and other militias. And the Israeli terror state launched air strikes on Syria under the guise of protecting Druze people, who are a majority in Suwayda.

Syria’s defense minister has announced a ceasefire after government forces entered a key city in Sweida province on Tuesday.

Israel says it is intervening to protect Syria’s Druze residents who have strong ties to Israel’s Druze community. Damascus called the attack a violation of sovereignty.

A view of a destroyed building, after powerful airstrikes shook Damascus on Wednesday, targeting the defense ministry, as Israel vowed to destroy Syrian government forces attacking Druze communities in southern Syria and demanded their withdrawal,