Syria reports that at least one civilian was killed in the latest airstrikes, while the majority of Druze leaders reject Israel's offer of protection.
Israel Conducts Airstrikes Across Syria Amid Tensions Over Druze Protection
Israeli fighter jets carried out a wave of airstrikes across Syria late Friday, targeting military sites near Damascus and in the provinces of Deraa and Hama, following statements from Israeli officials signaling a readiness to intervene in defense of Syria’s Druze minority.
According to Syrian state media, the strikes hit a military facility in Harasta, a suburb of Damascus, and additional, unspecified locations elsewhere in the country. At least one civilian was reportedly killed and four others injured in the bombings.
These attacks came hours after a separate Israeli strike killed four civilians in southern Syria and targeted areas near the presidential palace in Damascus. Syria’s transitional government condemned the airstrikes as a “dangerous escalation” and an assault on the country’s sovereignty. The presidency accused Israel of seeking to destabilize Syria’s institutions.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a joint statement asserting that the strikes were a direct warning to the Syrian government amid ongoing violence near Damascus between pro-government militias and members of the Druze community. “This is a clear message to the Syrian regime. We will not allow the deployment of forces south of Damascus or any threat to the Druze community,” the statement said.
The Israeli military confirmed that its aircraft struck near the residence of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, although it declined to provide further details.
Despite Israel’s assertion that its actions are intended to safeguard Syria’s Druze population, many Druze leaders have publicly rejected the offer of protection. One of the community’s top spiritual figures, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, accused the Syrian government of committing what he described as an “unjustified genocidal attack” and called for urgent international intervention. The other two leading Druze religious authorities have opted for direct negotiations with Damascus and rejected outside involvement.
The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria condemned the Israeli strikes, with its chair, Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, stating that “there is nothing in international law that allows for pre-emptive bombing.”
The recent escalation follows widespread unrest in Druze-majority areas near Damascus earlier in the week, sparked by the circulation of a defamatory audio clip—falsely attributed to a Druze cleric—that inflamed tensions with Sunni Muslim communities.
Syria’s current leadership, which came to power after the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in December, is led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a faction with roots in the al-Qaeda network. While the new government has pledged inclusive governance in Syria’s diverse society, internal pressures from extremist elements pose significant challenges.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that at least 56 people, including armed local fighters and security personnel, were killed in the Druze-populated areas of Sahnaya and Jaramana. The Observatory also accused Syrian forces and allied militias of carrying out a massacre in March that left over 1,700 civilians dead—most from Assad’s Alawite sect.
Since Assad’s fall, Israel has repeatedly struck targets in Syria, citing the need to prevent threats to the Druze community. It has also deployed forces in formerly demilitarized zones in the Golan Heights, seizing key strategic positions.
Some Israeli analysts view this policy as an attempt to weaken Syria’s new government while cultivating alliances with minority groups. However, the approach remains contentious, with critics arguing that a stable and unified Syria might better serve Israel’s long-term interests.
Despite the recent hostilities, President Sharaa signaled a willingness to improve relations with Israel during a meeting with a visiting U.S. congressman last week.
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