Syrian authorities have accused Druze militias of obstructing vital humanitarian aid from reaching the southern province of Sweida, deepening the crisis in a region already grappling with deadly sectarian violence and political instability.

More than 100 demonstrators from Canada's Druze community gathered on Parliament Hill on Friday afternoon, asking for the government to intervene in an unfolding humanitarian crisis in Syria where hundreds have already been killed.

About 30,000 mostly Druze people are thought to be trapped inside the besieged city of Sweida and surrounding towns, with no electricity, little internet and dwindling supplies of food and water.

Syria's southern city of Sweida witnessed intense clashes between Druze militias and Sunni Muslim Bedouin clans, resulting in hundreds of casualties. A US-mediated ceasefire led to the Bedouins withdrawing.

One of the leaders of the Druze community in Syria Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri called for an end to the attack on Sweida, urging a ceasefire enforcement, and denounced disinformation targeting Syria’s Druze community.

U.S. Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack said early Saturday that Israel and Syria had agreed to a cease-fire, following Israel’s intervention this week in fighting between Syrian government forces and

Syrian government forces are preparing a return to the southern region due to new clashes between Druze armed groups and Bedouin clans, causing mass displacement. Though a ceasefire was announced, violence resumed with significant humanitarian implications.

The US lifted sanctions against Syria to help ensure a stable nation that protects its minorities. The Druze plight is a litmus test for those commitments