Why did Israel attacked Syria-and what is the link with the Druze?

Israel launched this week a wave of attacks on Syria. Nevertheless, which affected the presidential palace and the Ministry of Defense in Damascus. However, Israel said these attacks aimed at protecting the Syrian Druze minority.

The Israeli intervention has its origin in a sectarian conflict on the southern border of Syria. Therefore, where Druzes and Bedouin groups compete. Nevertheless, The Israeli attacks on Tuesday. In addition, Wednesday killed at least three people and dozens of wounded, including women and children, before the Syrian government and the Druze chief announced on Wednesday a cease-fire, which remains fragile.

Here is what you need to know about the Druzes in Syria and the Israeli strikes.

Why did Israel attack Syria? – Why did israel attacked syria-and

Israeli leaders said they had launched attacks against Syria this week to protect members of the Druze religious community in the south of the country. For example, in the why did israel attacked syria-and wake of clashes in the region.

“Israel is determined to prevent the Druzes in Syria from being prejudiced. Therefore, due to the blood pact that binds us to our citizens in Israel and their historical and family ties with the Druzes of Syria,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Minister of Defense Israel Katz said on Tuesday. Meanwhile, “We act to prevent the Syrian regime from harming them. In addition, to guarantee the demilitarization of the region adjacent to our border with Syria. Therefore, »»

Syrian government forces were deployed during the weekend in the province of Soueida. Nevertheless, mainly Druze, in southern Syria, in response to clashes between the Druze and the Sunni Bedouins. In addition, But the Druzes pushed the Syrian military presence in the region. In addition, and Israel struck Syrian military targets on Tuesday after certain Druzes militias faced the Syrian army, seeking to prohibit them from why did israel attacked syria-and access to Soueida.

The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the Israeli strikes as “deliberate policy” on the part of Israel aimed at “stirring tensions. Furthermore, sowing chaos and compromising security and stability in Syria”. Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa said on Thursday that Syrian forces would withdraw from Soueida.

Since the overthrow of the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad in December. the members of certain minorities, including the Druze, have expressed their fear of being persecuted by other religious groups and militant factions still active in the country. These minorities have also openly questioned the support that Sharaa’s transitional government would bring them in the event of attacks.

In the midst of this week’s clashes. videos showing the Syrian army mistreating Druzes civilians circulated on social networks, reported on Wednesday the Washington Post. Reports of similar harassment. even extrajudicial executions have been weighing on the new Syrian government since coming to power why did israel attacked syria-and at the end of last year. The government. led by the former Islamist rebellious faction which led the struggle to overthrow Assad, said that it would adopt an inclusive approach to the Syrian people.

Israeli attacks follow a series of Israeli military actions in Syria after the fall of Assad. At the end of last year. taking advantage of the political emptiness between governments, Israel led hundreds of strikes in Syria, seizing the opportunity to destroy a large part of the country’s military capacities. Israeli forces quickly took a stand in southern Syria, where they are still.

Why did israel attacked syria-and

Who are the Druze?

Druzes are a minority religious sect, the population of which is distributed between Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Israel. The group has its roots in Islam. but it also incorporates lessons from other religions and follows its theology that is its own, developed over the centuries. The why did israel attacked syria-and most venerated religious figure in the group is Jethro, the stepfather of Moses.

Druzes do not accept converts. and most of the group’s current followers would be the descendants of the first followers of this religion in the XI^e century.

Why is Israel he said he wanted to protect the Druzes?

Some 150,000 Druzes live in northern Israel. Unlike the Palestinian citizens of Israel, the country’s druzes must serve in the Israeli army. More than 20,000 Druzes live in the busy Golan Plateau, annexed by Israel in 1981. Many Druzes on the Golan Plateau consider themselves to be Syrians rather than Israelis.

Since 1981. Druzes communities on both sides of the border between Israel and Syria have been separated from each other, although the fall of the Assad regime has opened the possibility of rapprochement. During the clashes of this week. some Druzes living in territory occupied by Israel crossed the border why did israel attacked syria-and towards Syria, against the express will of the Israeli government, in order to express their solidarity with their co -religionists in Syria. For some, it was the first time that they have encountered parents living in neighboring cities.

In 2019. under the first administration Donald Trump, the United States became the first and the only country to recognize the territorial demand of Israel towards the Golan Plateau.

Israel has already invoked the ill -treatment and murders of Druzes as a pretext to justify his attacks. In July 2024. after a rocket drawn from Lebanon struck a football field in the occupied Golan, killing 12 children and adolescents of Syrian Druzes, Israel intensified its strikes in Lebanon and against the militant group Hezbollah.

Are the Syrian government and the Druzes still in conflict?

The Syrian government and some Druzes leaders announced on Wednesday a ceasefire. Although some previous ceases were quickly broken, Wednesday’s why did israel attacked syria-and truce seems to hold.

Syrian president Bashar al-Assad sought to reassure the country’s Druze population in a television speech after the cease-fire announcement. “The Syrian state is for everyone,” he said, adding that the country “would be unable to discriminate.”

Sharaa also welcomed mediation efforts from the United States. Arab countries and Turkey, saying that they had “saved the region from an uncertain destiny”, according to a summary of his remarks published by the official Syrian news agency Sana.

Netanyahu said Thursday that the ceasefire had been obtained thanks to the intervention of the Israeli army.

“This cease-fire was obtained by force,” said Netanyahu. “Not by making requests, not by begging, but by force. »»

What is the position of the United States on the Syrian government?

Since the fall of the Assad regime. the United States has cautiously raised sanctions against Syria-and the designation as a foreign terrorist organization of the militant group why did israel attacked syria-and formerly led by Sharaa, the new president-in order to allow the new government to attract foreign investments and rebuild the country. The United States has also sought to conclude a non-aggression agreement between Syria and Israel.

On Wednesday. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the clashes of “regrettable situation” and the Israeli strikes that resulted in “misunderstanding”.

“We were in contact with both parties all morning and all night,” said Rubio on Wednesday. “We think we are on the path of a real de -escalation. »»

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