An American citizen from Oklahoma was among eight men, all family members, rounded up and killed in an execution-style attack during the sectarian violence that flared in Syria last week. Hosam Saraya,

Syria's Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra said in a statement there would be "no tolerance" for perpetrators of human rights violations in Sweida, even if they were committed by ministry forces. A committee has been formed to investigate reports of killings by people wearing military fatigues and to try to identify them, he said.

President Donald Trump was caught by surprise last week by Israeli actions in Gaza and Syria, and in both instances phoned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “rectify” the matter, according to the White House.