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.

Syrian Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri on Thursday condemned what he called a "genocidal campaign" against his community after two days of deadly sectarian clashes left 101 people dead.The violence poses a serious challenge to the Islamist authorities who ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December.