Hundreds of Bedouin civilians were evacuated from Syria's predominantly Druze city of Sweida on Monday as part of a U.S.-backed truce meant to end days of bloodshed in southern Syria, state media and witnesses said.

As violence broke out last week between two ethnic groups in southern Syria, both the Israeli and Syrian governments intervened.

Around 1,500 Bedouins are set to be evacuated from the conflict-hit province of Sweida, following a deal brokered by the Syrian government. Local officials told dpa that an initial group of about 350 people,