Syria’s interim president has declared it a “priority” to safeguard the nation’s Druze citizens, following Israel’s commitment to dismantle government forces it blames for assaults on members of the religious minority in Suweida province.
In a televised address following Israel’s air strikes on Damascus on Wednesday, Ahmed al-Sharaa issued a stark warning, asserting that Syrians remain unafraid of conflict.
Reports from Syrian state media indicate that the military is in the process of withdrawing from Suweida as part of a ceasefire agreement reached with Druze leaders. However, uncertainty remains regarding whether that will persist.
Reports indicate that over 350 individuals have lost their lives following the outbreak of sectarian clashes between Druze militias and Bedouin tribes in the province, which began on Sunday.
In a significant move, the government has dispatched its forces to the predominantly Druze city of Suweida. This marks the first deployment since the Sunni Islamist group led by Sharaa initiated a rebel offensive that resulted in the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad in December, effectively concluding 13 years of civil war.
The conflict intensified, with government forces facing accusations from residents and activists of killing Druze civilians and conducting extrajudicial executions.
The Druze religion, originating as an offshoot of Shia Islam, has developed its own distinct identity and set of beliefs. Beyond Syria, significant populations of Druze can also be found in Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, and the occupied Golan Heights.
Since assuming power, Sharaa has faced scepticism from Syrian Druze and other minority groups, mainly due to his history associated with jihadist activities. The Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), previously affiliated with al-Qaeda, continues to be classified as a terrorist organisation by the United Nations.
Concerns have escalated following multiple incidents of lethal sectarian violence, notably an outbreak in May involving clashes among Druze militias, security forces, and allied Islamist fighters, which led to military intervention by Israel.
During his address on Thursday morning, Sharaa emphasised the significance of the Druze as “a fundamental part of the fabric of this nation,” firmly rejecting any efforts to involve them with what he referred to as “an external party.”
The president stated that government forces sent to Suweida had “succeeded in restoring stability and expelling outlawed factions despite the Israeli interventions,” which he described as having caused a “significant complication of the situation” and “a large-scale escalation.”
“We do not count ourselves among those who fear the war.” We have spent our lives facing challenges and defending our people, but we have put the interests of the Syrians before chaos and destruction,” he said.
Responsibility for security in Suweida is set to be transferred to religious elders and certain local factions, as stated by officials, “based on the supreme national interest.”
Sharaa concluded the address with a commitment from the government to ensure accountability for those who have wronged and exploited the Druze community.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed Israel’s Druze citizens, stating that Israeli forces were “acting to save our Druze brothers and to eliminate the gangs of the regime.”
The Israeli military reported that its aircraft targeted the Syrian military’s headquarters in Damascus, along with a military site adjacent to the presidential palace. Additionally, strikes were carried out on armoured vehicles en route to Suweida, as well as firing posts and weapons storage facilities located in southern Syria.
“We are taking decisive action to prevent the entrenchment of hostile elements beyond the border, to safeguard the citizens of the State of Israel, and to ensure the protection of Druze civilians,” stated the military’s chief of staff, Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, during a visit to the Golan Heights.
“He issued a stern warning, stating that southern Syria will not be permitted to transform into a stronghold for terrorism.”
The general emphasised that there was “no room for disorder near the border fence,” following the crossing of hundreds of Druze over the heavily fortified frontier with Syria on Wednesday.
The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, stated that discussions with all parties involved had taken place, resulting in an agreement on specific steps aimed at resolving this troubling and horrifying situation.
“All parties must fulfil the commitments they have made, and we fully expect them to do so,” he stated, refraining from providing further details.
A UK-based monitoring group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), reports that over 350 individuals have lost their lives since Sunday.
According to the group, the casualties comprise 79 Druze fighters and 55 civilians, with 27 of those civilians reportedly executed by forces from the interior and defence ministries.
According to reports, the clashes have resulted in the deaths of at least 189 members of the government forces and 18 Bedouin tribal fighters.
Verification of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights’ casualty figures remains elusive at this time. However, Syrian security sources reported on Wednesday that the death toll is nearing 300.
