Syrian government forces have started withdrawing from the southern province of Sweida following days of vicious clashes with militias from the Druze minority

Government forces and allied militias began withdrawing from the mostly Druze city of Sweida in southern Syria on Thursday. It comes after Israeli strikes to defend the sect and US demands on Damascus to pull out.

Withdrawal follows announcement of truce, which a Druze spiritual leader says includes 'full integration of the province' into Syrian state, though other community leaders reject it