Government aims to move some 1,500 Bedouins out of city after a week of deadly clashes with Druze; officials say Damascus will also allow displaced residents to return

Busra Al-Harir, Syria — The Syrian government on Monday started evacuating Bedouin families trapped inside the city of Sweida, where Druze militiamen and Bedouin fighters have clashed for over a week.

The evacuees, including women and children, were headed for reception centres in neighbouring Daraa province and to the capital Damascus, in coordination with the Syrian Red Crescent. State news agency Sana said 1,500 people from Bedouin tribes were to be evacuated.