Syrian troops entered the predominantly Druze city of Sweida on Tuesday following two days of clashes, the first time government forces have deployed to the city since Ahmed al-Sharaa took over as President in December.
The deployment came after the Druze spiritual leadership, which had resisted any deployment of Syrian troops there, urged Druze fighters to lay down their arms and allow government forces in.
US and Iran launch new attacks as they wrestle for control of Strait
The US military said on Monday it destroyed six Iranian small boats and intercepted Iranian cruise missiles and drones as Tehran sought to thwart a new US naval effort to open shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Putin, Zelenskyy proclaim rival ceasefires around Russia's commemorations
President Vladimir Putin has declared on Monday a two-day ceasefire in the conflict with Ukraine on May 8-9 to mark Russia’s World War Two victory, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy countered with his own proposed pause in fighting starting earlier, on the night of May 5‑6.
Blast at fireworks factory in China's Hunan kills 21
A blast at a fireworks factory in China's Hunan province has killed 21 people and injured 61, prompting President Xi Jinping to call for a thorough investigation, state media reported on Tuesday.
Three killed after small plane crashes into building in southeastern Brazil
A small airplane with five occupants crashed into a building on Monday in the city of Belo Horizonte in southeastern Brazil, killing three people, local officials and firefighters said.
Two killed, multiple injuries after car hits bystanders in Leipzig
Two people were killed and three others were seriously injured on Monday when a car drove into a central pedestrian zone of the eastern German city of Leipzig, Mayor Burkhard Jung said, the latest in a spate of such incidents in recent years in Germany.
