Israel Comes to Defense of Syria’s Druze
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While strategic considerations were still in play, the heart of the decision lay in defending the extended family of Israel’s own Druze—a gesture shaped as much by kinship as by security. Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria over the past decade,
The Syrian government has begun evacuating over 1,500 Bedouins from war-torn Sweida following deadly clashes with Druze militias that killed 260 in a week. Red Crescent and security forces are escorting evacuees to Daraa as ceasefire talks continue.
US envoy says Syria and Israel agree to ceasefire as Druze minority and Bedouin clans clash in Syria
U.S. Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack says that Israel and Syria have agreed to a ceasefire, following Israel’s intervention this week in fighting between Syrian government forces and Bedouin tribes and armed groups from the Druze minority.
Israel can’t intervene in every conflict around the world. But this felt different — it was a moral and familial obligation,’ says one Rabbi with a
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the situation as "complicated" but said it looked like a "misunderstanding".
As violence broke out last week between two ethnic groups in southern Syria, both the Israeli and Syrian governments intervened.
Syria's new government sent troops to quell fighting between the Druze religious minority and Sunni Muslim tribes. Then Israel intervened, bombing Damascus.
As of mid-2025, 6,006 Druze in the Golan, roughly 20% of the 29,000-strong community, hold Israeli citizenship. This surge reflects not only a growing willingness to formally align with Israel, but also an acceleration of a trend that predates the latest violence in Syria.
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