Syria Vows to Protect Druze Amid Sectarian Clashes and Israeli Strikes

 

Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has pledged to protect the country's Druze population following deadly sectarian violence in Suweida province and Israeli air strikes on Syrian military targets. The violence began on Sunday between Druze militias and Bedouin tribes, leaving more than 350 people dead. This includes dozens of Druze civilians reportedly killed by government forces, prompting accusations of extrajudicial executions. The government responded by deploying troops to the mainly Druze city of Suweida, marking their first presence there since Sharaa’s Sunni Islamist-led government came to power after overthrowing President Bashar al-Assad in December, ending a 13-year civil war. Sharaa’s leadership has caused concern among minorities like the Druze due to his past ties with jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al-Qaeda affiliate. Sectarian tensions have worsened, with previous clashes in May also drawing Israeli military intervention. In a national speech, Sharaa acknowledged the Druze as a key part of Syria’s social fabric and claimed the military had stabilized Suweida. He rejected foreign interference, indirectly addressing Israeli actions, and promised that local elders and factions would now oversee security in the province. He concluded by vowing accountability for crimes committed against the Druze.

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In response to the violence in Syria’s Suweida region, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel had carried out airstrikes targeting Syrian military facilities. These included the military HQ in Damascus, a site near the presidential palace, and convoys heading to Suweida. Israel’s military chief warned that they would not allow southern Syria to become a terrorist base or a threat to Israeli Druze. The strikes came after reports of government forces killing Druze civilians. Israel said its actions were meant to protect Druze communities and prevent Iranian-backed militias or Syrian regime forces from escalating tensions further along its northern border. The conflict prompted international concern. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was in talks with all sides and that specific steps had been agreed upon to end the crisis, though details were not disclosed. Monitoring group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that more than 350 people had died since Sunday. These included 79 Druze fighters, 55 civilians, 189 government forces, and 18 Bedouin fighters. It also accused Syrian interior and defence forces of executing at least 27 civilians. It remains unclear whether a ceasefire negotiated with Druze leaders will hold. The situation continues to be volatile, with cross-border tensions rising after hundreds of Druze reportedly crossed into Syria through the fortified Israel-Syria frontier.

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