Tensions in Syria's Suweida city have culminated in violence, drawing Israeli military intervention to protect the Druze community amidst increased sectarian strife.
Israel Strikes Syrian Forces Amid Intensifying Sectarian Clashes in Suweida
Israel Strikes Syrian Forces Amid Intensifying Sectarian Clashes in Suweida
Conflict escalates in Syria's Druze region with casualties rising amid foreign military responses.
Israel has bombed Syrian government targets near Suweida following deadly clashes involving Druze militias and Bedouin tribes, leading to significant casualties. Reports suggest approximately 100 fatalities since fighting erupted on Sunday, which has prompted Syria's defense minister to declare a ceasefire. The ceasefire, announced early Tuesday, allows government forces to enter the predominantly Druze city, as an agreement was made with local leaders.
Despite the announcement, a prominent Druze spiritual leader has called for resistance against the government's presence. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified the airstrikes by stating they were necessary to prevent weapons from being used against the Druze community—a vital group linked to Israel and located near the Golan Heights.
This military incursion marks the first time Syrian government forces have entered Suweida since the ascent of Islamist-led rebel factions that previously challenged President Bashar al-Assad's regime. Many minority groups in the region remain skeptical of the new leadership's promises of protection, and local Druze forces have previously resisted integration into the government's military structure. As tensions rise, the situation remains volatile, with fears of broader conflicts affecting the already precarious security of minority communities in Syria.
