Israel Strikes Militant Group in Syria Amid Clashes with Druze Fighters, Sends Warning to Damascus
The incident follows a deadly flare-up in sectarian violence between pro-government gunmen and Druze fighters in the suburb of Jaramana on Tuesday, which resulted in the deaths of more than ten individuals.
By Ahora Qadi
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Israel announced on Wednesday that it carried out a strike in southern Syria targeting what it described as an “extremist group” preparing to attack members of the Druze community in the town of Sahnaya, amid a new wave of sectarian clashes that left at least 11 people dead, including security personnel and Druze residents.
In a statement issued by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, the Israeli military was said to have “conducted a warning action and struck the organization of an extremist group preparing to attack the Druze population in Sahnaya, in the Damascus region.”
The statement added that a “stern message” was delivered to the Syrian government, stressing that Israel expects the authorities in Damascus to act to prevent further harm to the Druze community.
Clashes Near Damascus Escalate
The incident follows a deadly flare-up in sectarian violence between pro-government gunmen and Druze fighters in the suburb of Jaramana on Tuesday, which resulted in the deaths of more than ten individuals. The next day, fresh clashes erupted on the outskirts of Sahnaya, about 15 kilometers southwest of the capital, home to both Druze and Christian communities.
According to Syria’s Ministry of Information, 11 members of the country’s security forces were killed in two separate attacks, which also left others wounded, triggering further fighting. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that 13 individuals were killed in total — 11 security personnel and two Druze civilians — and added that Damascus had begun deploying reinforcements to the area.
Strategic Messaging on Memorial Day
Israel’s strike came as the country marked its annual Memorial Day to honor fallen soldiers. In its statement, Netanyahu’s office invoked the “deep commitment to our Druze brothers in Israel,” emphasizing their historical and military contributions to the state, and vowing to protect their relatives across the border in Syria.
“Israel will not allow harm to befall the Druze community in Syria out of a deep commitment to our Druze brothers in Israel, who share family and historical ties with their Druze brethren in Syria,” the statement read.
The Druze community makes up approximately 3% of Syria’s population, with a significant presence in the south. Many Druze families have cross-border ties extending into Lebanon and Israel, particularly the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
Rising Regional Tensions
Tensions in southern Syria have surged since the ouster president Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, with new Islamist-led authorities struggling to assert control and contain sectarian hostilities. Israel, which has voiced mistrust of the new rulers in Damascus, has stepped up its military operations in the area, citing the need to counter threats posed to its borders and minority communities.
Since March 1, Israel’s defense establishment has maintained an alert posture, stating it is prepared to intervene to defend Druze-populated areas such as Jaramana, which it claimed were “under attack” by Syrian forces.
Wednesday’s developments underscore both the fragility of Syria’s post-Assad order and the complexities of regional alignments, as Tel Aviv signals its willingness to project force beyond its borders in defense of communities with ties to its own population.
