The clashes come as Syria’s new rulers are trying to establish their authority, and contending with well-armed militias and Israeli troops determined to keep government forces out.

Deadly clashes between Islamist armed factions, security forces and fighters from the Druze religious minority near Damascus are another sign of the continuing fragility of the security situation in Syria after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad.

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.