1st LD: 2 car bombs go off in Syria's Swaida, casualties feared

Two booby-trapped cars went off in the predominantly-Druze city of Swaida in southern Syria on Friday, leaving large number of casualties, the state-run TV reported.

While the TV spelled no details about the exact location of the first blast, or who was the target, sources inside the city speculated that the first explosion may have targeted a leader of a local Druze militant group. The speculations could not be confirmed.

The second car, meanwhile, blew up near the National Hospital of Swaida, amid information of high number of casualties, the TV and the source said.

The Druze minority, along with other minority groups in Syria, has emerged as supporters of President Bashar al-Assad, fearing the expansion of radical jihadist groups that showed no tolerance of minority groups in Syria.

However, the Druze support of the Syrian regime didn't stop them from criticizing the government's conduct in that city near the Jordanian borders.

Last week, several dozens of people staged protests before government institutions in Swaida, urging for reforms.

Due to its proximity to the southern province of Daraa, which has largely fallen to jihadi groups, the Druze in Swaida formed their own militias to defend their city against the threats of the jihadists.

Those local militias, while formed in coordination with the Syrian army, enjoy some independency as their ranks is largely formed by volunteers. Endit