Israel's backing for the Druze community serves a strategic purpose: undermining Syria's stability.

Here's a refreshed, down-to-earth breakdown of the current turmoil in Syria:

Israel, who's been hanging onto a chunk of Syrian territory since 1967, is stirring up a bit of drama, claiming they're safeguarding the Druze community as justification for their recent attacks near Damascus. Despite all the ruckus, it seems many question whether Israel's truly acting out of the kindness of their heart or if they're using the Druze as an excuse to maintain control over parts of Syria.

When Israel dropped some serious firepower on the Presidential Palace neighborhood on May 3, Benjamin Netanyahu, the country's Prime Minister, called it a clear message. "We ain't gonna let nobody send troops south of Damascus or threaten the Druze community," he declared. The earlier specter of Israeli intervention loomed large when the old ruler, Bashar al-Assad, took a hike, with Israel warning then they'd step in if the new government touched the Druze.

Andreas Krieg, a smart cookie teaching at King's College London, believes Israel is simply using the Druze as a excuse for their military occupation of parts of Syria. In a recent speech, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich hinted at the government's intentions, stating that the war against Hamas would end when "Syria is decimated", among other objectives.

Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria's temporary leader, admitted there've been secret chats with Israel to contain the situation, but Israeli diplomats chose to stay mum when AFP asked for the lowdown.

Druze autonomy:

With Israeli forces burning the midnight oil in a war with Hamas, Netanyahu's insisting Israel is in a life-or-death battle and is hell-bent on "altering the Middle East." In 2015, Gideon Saar, Israel's foreign minister, suggested dividing Syria into various ethno-religious entities, including "Druze autonomy in southern Syria." This idea echoes a strategy mandated by France in the early 20th century but later scrapped due to opposition from the Druze themselves and Syrian nationalists.

Countering Turkey:

Last week saw a bloody spree of clashes between government forces and Druze and Christian communities in and around Damascus and the Druze stronghold of Suweida in the south. Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri, a Syrian Druze religious leader, pleaded for an international peacekeeping force and endorsed a community statement asserting that the Druze are an integral part of Syria. Back in Israel, the Druze took part in various protests, urging the government to defend their brethren in Syria.

Most Druze in the Golan Heights still see themselves as Syrian, but the Israeli Druze population has stood by the State of Israel since its establishment in 1948 and is over-represented in the army and police. Efraim Inbar, a researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies, states "Israel feels obligated to the Druze and their unwavering loyalty to the Israeli army." Defending the Druze, feels Inbar, is also part of the new geopolitical landscape as Israel seeks to protect the Druze and Kurdish minorities from the Sunni majority and prevent Turkey from expanding its influence in Syria.

On the flip side, Turkey, who's grappling with its own Kurdish problem, supports the new government in Damascus and is keen to block the Kurds from consolidating their positions in northeastern Syria, right along the border. So, it's a hair-trigger situation out there, with conflicting interests between Israel, Turkey, and the Syrian government. Keep a weather eye on how this drama unfolds.

Insights: Israel's military operations in Syria are driven by a variety of factors, including the protection of the Druze minority, strategic interests, and countering perceived threats from Iran and Hezbollah. These actions have raised concerns from regional powers like Turkey, who sees them as a threat to regional stability. Israel's actions are also contributing to the ongoing instability in Syria and complicating international relations in the region. The UN Syria Commission emphasizes the need for de-escalation and dialogue to prevent further violence and displacement. In the broader context, these actions fit into Israel's efforts to secure its borders, maintain strategic depth, and counter foreign influence in Syria, particularly from Iran.

The Druze community in southern Syria, a topic of recent international attention, is being used as an excuse by Israel for their military occupation, according to Andreas Krieg, a scholar at King's College London.
Israel's desire for Druze autonomy in Syria might stem from a strategic intent to counter Turkey's influence in the region, as argued by Efraim Inbar, a researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies.
Despite Israel's justifications for their actions in Syria, such as safeguarding the Druze community, regional powers like Turkey view these military operations as a potential threat to regional stability.
The United Nations Syria Commission calls for de-escalation and dialogue to prevent further violence and displacement, emphasizing the complex nature of the ongoing war-and-conflicts and its impact on human rights in the region.