Israel Warns Minorities in 'Grave Danger' Under New Syrian Leadership
Israeli FM Gideon Sa'ar accused Syria's president of endangering minorities, by supporting attackers and blaming victims in the al-Suwayda crisis. He urged the international community to protect minorities as a condition for recognizing Syria's new government.
By Kamaran Aziz
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Israel’s top diplomat, Gideon Sa’ar, has launched a scathing attack on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, accusing him of supporting “jihadist attackers” and blaming the victims of recent deadly violence, while warning that all minorities in Syria, including Kurds and Druze, face a perilous future under his leadership.
In a statement posted on the social media platform X, the Israeli Foreign Minister offered a stark interpretation of a recent speech by al-Sharaa concerning the violent clashes in southern Syria.
Sa'ar characterized the Syrian president's speech as "a display of support for the jihadists attackers," noting that al-Sharaa referred to them as "The Bedouin tribes as a symbol of noble values and principles." He further accused the Syrian leader of "blaming the victims (the attacked Druze minority)" and spicing his address with "conspiracy theories and accusations against Israel."
Drawing a grim conclusion, Sa'ar stated, "Bottom line: In al-Shara’s Syria, it is very dangerous to be a member of a minority—Kurd, Druze, Alawite, or Christian. This has been proven time and again over the past six months."
The Israeli Foreign Minister concluded with a direct appeal to the global community, asserting, "The international community has a duty to ensure the security and rights of the minorities in Syria and to condition Syria’s renewed acceptance into the family of nations on their protection.”
The speech of Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara was a display of support for the jihadists attackers (in al-Shara’s words: “The Bedouin tribes as a symbol of noble values and principles”) and blaming the victims (the attacked Druze minority).
— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) July 19, 2025
Al-Shara spiced all this with…
Sa’ar’s sharp critique was a direct response to Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s first public address since a nationwide ceasefire was declared.
In his speech, al-Sharaa described the violent events in the southern province of al-Suwayda as a “dangerous inflection point.” He stated the violence began between “armed outlaws and members of the Bedouin community,” but accused Israel of escalating the crisis with direct bombardments on Damascus and southern Syria.
Al-Sharaa condemned retaliatory attacks launched by armed factions from al-Suwayda against Bedouins, which he said led to mass displacement. While he praised Syria’s Arab tribes as "symbols of noble values," he also urged them to obey state directives.
Critically, al-Sharaa explicitly rejected attempts to stigmatize the entire Druze community for the actions of a few, reaffirming that the Druze are a "fundamental pillar of the national fabric."
The political maneuvering unfolded against a backdrop of extreme violence. Just days earlier, powerful Israeli airstrikes hit central Damascus, targeting sensitive sites including the General Staff Headquarters and the area near the Presidential Palace. Simultaneously, the situation in al-Suwayda deteriorated into a bloodbath.
Despite a ceasefire agreement announced by U.S. Special Envoy Tom Barrack, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported to Kurdistan24 that the truce had failed to hold. The death toll from the clashes has surpassed 718, including 80 civilians in al-Suwayda province alone. SOHR documented field executions carried out by different sides in the conflict, with 165 individuals killed by government forces and three Bedouins executed by Druze militants.
The humanitarian situation in al-Suwayda has collapsed completely. Hospitals are out of service, communications are severed, and the city has seen widespread looting amid a total absence of aid. The violence has also spilled into the suburbs of Damascus, signaling a widening conflict that continues to defy diplomatic solutions.
