Israel launched strikes on Syria’s defense ministry in Damascus and military targets in southern regions as sectarian violence flared in Suweida, signaling an intensifying situation involving Druze militias and Bedouin tribes.
Israel’s military action against Syrian government targets extended into a third day on Wednesday, amid escalating sectarian violence in Suweida, a predominantly Druze province. This comes after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed support for Druze communities, saying Israel is “working to save our Druze brothers.”
The intensifying conflict has resulted in more than 350 deaths since violent clashes erupted in the region between Druze militias and Bedouin tribes on Sunday. The fighting prompted the Syrian military to begin withdrawing its forces from Suweida late Wednesday, following talks mediated by the United States aimed at de-escalating the conflict.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on social media platform X that specific steps had been agreed upon to end the violence, an assertion supported by the Syrian state news agency Sana, which confirmed the troop withdrawal as part of an agreement with local religious leaders.
Despite the purported ceasefire efforts, Israel has not commented on these developments. Instead, earlier strikes beginning Monday targeted Syrian security forces and their weapons, deployed to Suweida following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad by Sunni Islamist rebels in December.
Sectarian tensions have intensified over the past eight months, aggravated by an incident in May that saw clashes between Druze, government forces, and allied militants result in numerous fatalities. The Druze minority, an offshoot of Shia Islam, harbors suspicions toward Interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, fueling their fear over repeated outbreaks of violence.
Israel’s latest involvement appears to be driven by its commitment to protecting the Druze population, which has historical ties to Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Following crossed-border incursions by Druze individuals on Wednesday, Israeli troops resorted to tear gas to dissuade further crossings. Netanyahu called on Israeli citizens among them to return home and allow the military to address the situation.
Israel’s intensified air campaign aimed to compel a swift Syrian military withdrawal from Suweida. Defence Minister Israel Katz indicated on X that military warnings in Damascus had concluded, pledging continued operations against forces attacking the Druze until their complete withdrawal is achieved. Reports also noted the destruction of armoured vehicles and military infrastructure in southern Syria.
Syria’s foreign ministry condemned the Israeli strikes, which it claimed targeted civilian facilities and government institutions in Damascus and Suweida, accusing Israel of inciting chaos and violating international laws. These reports were corroborated by the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, highlighting severe humanitarian conditions in Suweida, including shortages of essential supplies and destruction of medical facilities.
Eyewitness accounts described widespread panic and violence, with hospitals overwhelmed by hundreds of casualties. Local testimonies to the BBC relayed harrowing accounts of sniper attacks and residential looting, contributing to the escalating death toll.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that sectarian hostilities between Bedouin tribes and Druze militias allegedly began over an abduction incident last Friday. The violence swiftly engulfed Suweida, spreading to surrounding areas as Druze fighters seized a Bedouin-occupied neighborhood, leading to intensified tribal clashes.
Intervention by Syrian government forces, criticized for their conduct, appears to have exacerbated tensions within these communities. Reports accuse them of destructive activities and the humiliation of local leaders, further escalating an already volatile situation.
The broader geopolitical context includes Israel’s longstanding position on President Sharaa’s government and affiliated groups like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Despite past military interventions in Syria targeting such entities, the current situation underscores the complex and evolving dynamics in the region.
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