The spiritual leader of the Druze community in Israel, Sheikh Muwaffaq Tarif, has issued an urgent appeal to world leaders and Israel to provide immediate assistance to the residents of the Druze stronghold of As-Suwayda in southern Syria. According to him, the province is under complete siege by forces of President Ahmad al-Shara's regime, without water, food, electricity or medicine. "This is ethnic cleansing, children are dying of thirst," said Tarif, calling for aid airdrops and the opening of a humanitarian corridor.