Mazloum Abdi, Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces, said Wednesday they received appeals to protect civilians in Sweida and called for an immediate end to the violence, urging that the issues of the Druze community be resolved through the constitution and dialogue.

“We receive appeals from our people in Sweida to secure safe passages for civilians and to stop the attacks targeting them,” Mazloum Abdi said in a statement.

Abdi noted that killing women and children and attacking religious symbols are “crimes against humanity” that violate Syrian values, stressing these acts must stop “immediately” and those responsible must be held accountable.

He added that after 14 years of war, Syria should end the bloodshed and pursue dialogue and reason instead of revenge.

“The cause of our Druze people is a national issue, and its solution must be constitutional and through resorting to dialogue,” he added.

Abdi’s statement comes as clashes resumed this morning in the southern Syrian city of Sweida. The violence ignited two days ago after a Druze merchant was reportedly abducted while traveling by road to Damascus.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the death toll from the violence in southern Syria has now exceeded 300.

The Syrian presidency condemned the violations, pledged to punish those responsible, and reaffirmed its commitment to investigate all related incidents.

Meanwhile, Israel’s army said Wednesday it struck a military target near Syria’s presidential palace and military headquarters in Damascus, adding it continues to target Syrian regime sites in Damascus. Syria’s Health Ministry reported that one person was killed and 18 were wounded in the strikes.