Hello and welcome to News Hour from the BBC World Service.
We're coming to you live from London.
I'm Rob Young.
After days of deadly sectarian clashes in Syria,
government forces have today largely withdrawn from the southern city of Swader,
the heartland of the minority Druze community.
The move follows powerful Israeli airstrikes on key buildings in the capital Damascus after Syrian troops entered Swader.
Israel said it acted to protect the Druze.
It's
since been reported that at least 500 people have been killed in recent days in fighting between the Druze and Arab Bedouin tribes.
In the early hours of Thursday, the Syrian interim president Ahmad al-Sharra made a call for unity.
I also address the Druze people who are an integral part of the fabric of this nation.
Syria will never be a place for division or fragmentation.
or suing discord among its people.
We assure you that protecting your rights and freedom is one of our priorities and we reject any effort that aims to drag you to an external party or to create division within our ranks.
We are all partners in this land.
Well, let's cross to Damascus now, speak to our correspondent who is there, Lina Sinjab.
Lina, what are you hearing from Soweda?
Is the violence now over?
Well, the violence seems to be over.