Syrian security forces are beginning to move into the restive province of Suwayda after days of communal fighting in which hundreds of people have been killed,the country’s interior ministry says.

The conflict drew airstrikes against Syrian forces by neighboring Israel in defense of the Druze minority before most of the fighting was halted by a truce announced Wednesday.

In southern Syria, the government has deployed security forces and pleaded for all sides to stick to a ceasefire after sectarian clashes this week. Despite this, fighting between Druze groups and Arab fighters and Bedouin tribes continues.

Syria’s president declared a ceasefire after nearly a week of sectarian bloodshed in the south, but civilians said there was no let-up in the violence.