The sectarian violence involving Islamist factions, security forces and Druze gunmen is another sign of the fragile security situation.

Hijri has harshly criticized Syria’s government for what he called an “unjustified genocidal attack” during deadly sectarian fighting in Druze-majority areas south of Damascus this week.

The mayor of the mostly Druze town of Sahnaya in the suburbs of Damascus and his son were shot dead by unknown assailants, hours after forces from the Syrian ministries of defence and the interior entered the area,