Will Israel Take Strong Action Against Attacks on the Druze Community in Syria?

In a significant warning from Jerusalem on May 2, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has communicated a firm message directed at Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, assuring that harsh repercussions will follow if hostilities against the Druze minority persist in Syria.

On Thursday, the Minister revealed that Israeli forces stationed in southern Syria are fully prepared to thwart any attempt by hostile entities to infiltrate the Druze villages, emphasizing their readiness to monitor the situation closely for any potential developments.

“I reiterate my caution to the Syrian regime’s head,” Katz stated, “if the assaults targeting the Druze in Syria do not cease, our response will be extremely severe.”

Following recent skirmishes between Syrian security forces and local Druze individuals, both Katz and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have directed the Israeli military to execute several warning strikes against extremist factions, delivering a clear message to the Syrian government that it bears responsibility for preventing such aggressions against the Druze community.

On the same day, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar called upon the international community to safeguard Syria’s Druze minority from the new regime, highlighting that a tragic toll of 73 lives was reported lost during two days of sectarian violence, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

During an Independence Day gathering for foreign diplomats at the Presidential Residence in Jerusalem, Sa'ar emphasized that the world must uphold its obligation to protect the minorities in Syria, particularly the Druze, from both the regime and its associated terrorist groups, and should not turn a blind eye to the severe happenings there.

Expressing skepticism towards the new Syrian leadership, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, a Druze spiritual leader, urged for immediate intervention by international forces to maintain peace and prevent the ongoing atrocities, labeling the situation as an unjustifiable genocidal campaign.

Earlier on Thursday, two injured Druze individuals from Syria were transported to Ziv Medical Centre in Safed, northern Israel, for medical assistance, according to Xinhua news agency.

Violence erupted earlier in the week in Jaramana, a southeastern suburb of Damascus with a significant Druze and Christian demographic. The unrest was triggered by an audio recording attributed to the Druze community that contained remarks deemed offensive to Islam.

What began as disturbances in Jaramana has since escalated to surrounding areas southwest of Damascus, including predominantly Druze towns such as Sahnaya and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, where confrontations between local Druze fighters and pro-government troops have markedly intensified.

According to the latest update from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the death toll from recent sectarian clashes near Damascus has surged to 101, inclusive of nine documented field executions.

Since the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's administration in December 2024, Israel has been actively working to strengthen its relations with the Druze community, especially after expanding its territorial influence near the border with Syria and in the Golan Heights.