Israel-Syria Tensions Over Druze

Deadly clashes near Damascus between Islamist factions, security forces, and Druze fighters have heightened fears of renewed instability in post-Assad Syria. Israel carried out airstrikes, saying it aimed to protect Druze civilians, while Syrian authorities blamed “outlaw groups” and announced ceasefires with local leaders. The Druze spiritual leader condemned what he called a “genocidal campaign,” and monitoring groups report at least 101 deaths across Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, Jaramana, and Suweida. The violence, sparked by a provocative audio clip falsely linked to a Druze cleric, underscores deep mistrust between the Islamist-led government and minorities and the destabilizing influence of outside powers, particularly Israel and Turkey. With fragmented control, ongoing factional tensions, and external intervention, efforts to unify and stabilize Syria remain precarious.

Syria condemned an Israeli airstrike near the presidential palace in Damascus as a “dangerous escalation,” after Israel warned it would act to protect the Druze amid deadly sectarian clashes near the capital. The strike—Israel’s second in Syria this week—appeared aimed at signaling Syria’s new, Islamist-led leadership, as fighting between pro-government gunmen and Druze fighters left dozens dead. Israel said jets struck adjacent to President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s palace and vowed to prevent force deployments south of Damascus or threats to the Druze community. Druze leaders criticized the Syrian government over violence but affirmed commitment to Syria’s unity. Security forces and local Druze gunmen deployed in Jaramana under a deal to restore control. Reports put deaths over recent days at around 99, including security forces and local fighters.

Israel conducted airstrikes near the presidential palace in Damascus, warning of further action unless Syria protects its Druze minority amid deadly sectarian violence. The move follows clashes near Damascus and in Sweida that killed at least 102 people, including Druze fighters, civilians, and government loyalists. Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri condemned what he called a “genocidal campaign” and urged international intervention, while Syria’s interim authorities—who ousted Bashar al-Assad in December and are seen by Israel as jihadist—called for national unity and rejected external involvement. The U.S. condemned the violence against Druze as unacceptable. Israel also entered parts of the Golan buffer zone and evacuated wounded Druze to Israeli hospitals, as Druze leaders in Sweida reaffirmed their commitment to a unified Syria and rejected partition.

France 24 reports that Israel struck an area near the presidential palace in Damascus, signaling a sharper confrontation with Syria’s Islamist-led authorities and a willingness to escalate militarily under the banner of protecting Syria’s Druze minority. The analysis by Douglas Herbert frames the attack as a strategic message to Damascus against consolidating power in southern Syria, amid wider regional tensions and political pressure on Israel’s leadership.