Israeli fighter jets struck Syrian military targets in the southern city of Sweida on Tuesday, igniting new tensions along the border and sending a strong signal of support for the Druze minority in the region.
This rare escalation followed fierce clashes between Syrian government forces, Druze militias, and Bedouin fighters. Israeli leaders say their forces are acting to protect the Druze from what they called regime threats and aggression.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered a direct military response to the arrival of Syrian forces near Druze-populated areas, vowing to prevent further harm. The Israeli army confirmed it struck multiple armored vehicles and access routes to disrupt what it described as threatening regime movements toward Sweida.
Syrian state media acknowledged Israeli raids in the predominantly Druze city but said details on casualties remain unclear. Despite a declared ceasefire by Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra, bursts of gunfire and columns of smoke rose over the city as Israeli warplanes hovered overhead.
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The Druze community, an offshoot of Islam, forms a significant minority in Israel, Syria, and Lebanon and has maintained a historically complex relationship with neighboring states and ruling regimes.
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The strikes mark a significant step, with Israeli officials citing “deep brotherhood” and historical ties to the Druze community as core reasons for intervention. “Israel is committed to preventing harm to the Druze in Syria due to the deep fraternal alliance with our Druze citizens in Israel, as well as their familial and historical ties to the Druze in Syria,” stated the government.
Israel has repeatedly warned Damascus against sending military hardware into southern Syria, especially near the Golan Heights. Tuesday’s preemptive strikes come just months after the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime, further destabilizing an area already on edge after cross-border violence and political transition.
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Israeli leaders say strikes are a warning and a promise
Defense Minister Katz called the actions “a message and a clear warning to the Syrian regime,” insisting Israel would not allow any attacks on the Druze. According to the Israeli military, convoys of Syrian tanks, armored personnel carriers, and rocket launchers were among the primary targets.
A Druze spiritual leader, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri, had urged local fighters to resist what he described as a “barbaric campaign,” accusing government troops of violating a ceasefire agreement by firing on civilians.
The Israeli response came quickly after his call. Meanwhile, the Syrian army has started to withdraw heavy equipment from Sweida, and talks with local leaders appeared to yield an uneasy truce.
Sectarian violence erupts as Israel acts to protect border
Deadly fighting began Sunday between Bedouin and Druze militias, killing dozens and forcing thousands to flee Sweida province. The region, already troubled by deep distrust between minorities and the new Islamist-led Syrian government, now faces the added volatility of direct Israeli intervention.
Residents reported scenes of looting, burning shops, and civilian displacement. As Syrian government tanks entered the city, Israel’s military said its top concern was the safety of the Druze and the preservation of a demilitarized buffer near its border.
As tension remains high, Israel’s willingness to blend force with fraternity sets a new precedent for regional security. With power in southern Syria shifting and sectarian alliances frayed, Israel’s next moves could reshape the course of the conflict.
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