Israel Military Deploys to Safeguard Druze Community
On Saturday, Israel’s military announced that its forces stationed in southern Syria are on high alert to protect the Druze minority. This move follows a series of recent sectarian clashes in the region. The army confirmed its readiness to prevent hostile entities from entering the vicinity of Druze villages but did not clarify if this was a new troop deployment or provide specifics on the number of soldiers involved.
According to a Druze official from the Sweida province, the heart of Syria’s Druze population, there has been no visible increase in Israeli soldiers within their community. Reportedly, Israel’s military presence is primarily in the Quneitra province, adjacent to the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. This positioning was established after the ousting of long-time President Bashar al-Assad in December.
Israel Strikes as Tensions Escalate
In response to deadly sectarian violence near Damascus earlier in the week, Israel has conducted a series of airstrikes aimed at safeguarding the Druze community. The Israeli military has warned Syria’s Islamist regime against jeopardizing the safety of the Druze populace. On Saturday, the military confirmed that five Syrian Druze citizens were evacuated to Israel for medical treatment after sustaining injuries from clashes that occurred on Syrian soil.
The Druze official in Sweida indicated that these individuals were wounded during confrontations in Sahnaya, a locale recently plagued by sectarian unrest. Many injured individuals expressed concerns about being sent to hospitals in Damascus due to fears of detention by the authorities. Since the onset of the week, a total of 15 Syrian Druze have been admitted to hospitals in Israel.
Increased Military Activity Amid Sectarian Violence
Late Friday, Israel reportedly conducted more than 20 airstrikes inside Syria, as noted by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. These strikes were a direct response to an attack near the presidential palace in Damascus, which local authorities condemned as a severe escalation of tensions. Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, issued a stark warning, stating that Israel would take decisive action if the new Syrian government fails to protect the Druze minority.
The Israeli strikes followed a reaffirmation of loyalty to the Syrian government by Druze clerics and military groups, which came on the heels of the recent clashes that also saw involvement from pro-government forces. According to reports from the Syrian Observatory, the violence in regions such as Sahnaya and Jaramana, along with Sweida province, has claimed the lives of over 100 individuals.
