Clad in black in a modest apartment in central Beirut, Rima weeps for the relatives she lost in the recent wave of violence that engulfed Sweida, the Druze heartland in southern Syria. A Syrian Druze married to a Lebanese Druze,

Renewed violence in Syria between Druze militias and Bedouin tribes is threatening to deepen divisions in a country recuperating from a civil war.

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.