On Saturday, Israel’s military announced its forces stationed in southern Syria were prepared to protect the Druze minority amid recent sectarian clashes. The Israeli army stated it was “deployed in southern Syria and is prepared to prevent the entry of hostile forces into the area of Druze villages.” However, it did not provide specific details regarding troop numbers or whether this indicated a new deployment.
A Druze official from Sweida province, which is the center of Syria’s Druze community, reported that there had been no deployment of Israeli soldiers in the area. The official mentioned that Israel’s troop presence is reportedly limited to Quneitra province, situated near the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, where the military has established positions following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad in December.
Following deadly sectarian clashes near Damascus earlier in the week, Israel executed multiple air strikes aimed at protecting the Druze community and issued warnings to Syria’s rulers against harming this minority group. On Saturday, the Israeli military revealed that five Syrian Druze citizens were evacuated overnight to receive medical treatment in Israel after being injured on Syrian territory.
The Druze official in Sweida clarified that these individuals were wounded in clashes in Sahnaya, a recent site of sectarian violence. The evacuees feared being sent to hospitals in Damascus due to concerns about potential detention. According to Israeli army statements, a total of 15 Syrian Druze have been admitted to hospitals in Israel since the beginning of the week.
The conflict escalated further when Israel launched over 20 air strikes inside Syria late Friday, as reported by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. This military action followed an attack near the presidential palace in Damascus, which local authorities condemned as a “dangerous escalation.” Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, issued a warning that Israel would respond forcefully should Syria’s new government fail to safeguard the Druze minority.
The situation has intensified with Druze clerics and armed factions affirming their loyalty to Damascus after conflicts that also involved government-affiliated groups. According to the Observatory, more than 100 individuals were killed during the clashes in Sahnaya, Jaramana, and Sweida province.
