Israelli Military Reinforces Southern Syria Presence to Shield Druze Villages 🇮🇱 🇸🇾
Syria has been targeted by Israel over 20 times, with the intention stated to safeguard Druze settlements in southern regions.
Here's the dirt on what's been shaking down in Syria and Israel. Old man Assad's regime has fallen, and now the Israeli military is making a stand in the southern Syrian region, specifically around Druze villages. They ain't dishing out the deets on troop numbers or the exact extent of deployment, but they're ready to keep hostile forces at bay.
On the morning of May 3, Israeli forces performed a series of airstrikes in Syria, targeting military sites in Deraa, near Damascus, and regions in Hama and Latakia[2][3]. These strikes resulted in the death of a civilian near Harasta, outside Damascus[4]. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has reported that more than twenty Israeli strikes occurred in total.
In the early hours of Saturday, five Syrian Druze citizens were sent to Israel for medical treatment after they got whacked up in Syrian territory[2]. Druze officials in Sweida, a stronghold of the Druze community that seems to be largely unaffected by Israeli incursions, claim that no Israeli soldiers have been deployed there[2]. However, the Israeli military has established fortified positions in nearby Quneitra[3], which sits on the Golan Heights annexed by Israel since 1967.
As Syrian tensions have escalated, Israel has gotten all up in the mix. Clashes between armed groups affiliated with the Syrian regime and Druze fighters have left over a hundred dead near Damascus and in the south, close to Israel[4]. In response, Israeli Prime Minister, Benny Gutter, and Defense Minister, Israel Katz, have issued warnings to Syria: "We refuse to let Syrian forces impose themselves in Southern Damascus or threaten the Druze community in any way."[4]
A Bloody History of Sectarian Violence
This ain't the first time violence between Druze and Islamist groups has erupted. In March, massacres in western Syria left more than 1,700 people dead, mostly members of the Alawite minority[4]. Currently, the Syrian authorities claim they're firmly committed to protecting all components of the Syrian people, including the Druze community[4].
However, the most influential Druze religious leader in Syria, Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri, believes a "genocidal campaign" targeting the civilian population of his community is taking place[4]. The Syrian authorities insist that elements beyond their control are responsible.
Calls for Peace and Calm
In response to Israel's military actions in Syria, Geir Pedersen, the UN Special Envoy for Syria, urged for an immediate halt to these attacks. He condemned Israel's decision to endanger Syrian civilians and disrespect international law, territorial integrity, and independence[4]. Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Germany have also chimed in with condemnations of Israel's strikes in Syria.
Meanwhile, Syrian Druze fighters themselves have been caught in the crossfire. On Friday, four of them died in a drone strike in the province of Sweida[4]. The SOHR couldn't nail down the drone's alleged origin, and the current state of international relations leaves a lot to be desired.
Will Israel's military deployment succeed in sparing the Druze community from further bloodshed? Time will tell, but one thing's for sure. This ain't the last we've heard of the tumultuous situation in Syria. Stay tuned for updates.
Sources:
- "Israel launches strikes on Syria amid sectarian clashes" - Le Monde (Subscribed article)
- Agence France-Presse (AFP) - Various reports on Israel's strikes and military presence
- Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) - Reports on Israeli airstrikes and casualties
- "Dangerous Escalation" - Le Monde (Non-subscribed article)
- In a show of support for the Druze communities in Syria, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel's readiness to protect the region from war-and-conflicts, indicating a potential increase in politics and general-news surrounding the Middle East.
- As the Israeli military deployed in southern Syria, the Druze villages have come under their shield, showcasing a complex web of connections between regional politics, war-and-conflicts, and the safety of ethnic minorities.
- Amid Israel's deployment and ongoing airstrikes in Syria, international calls for peace and calm grew louder, as evidenced by strong condemnations from the likes of Geir Pedersen, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Germany.
- Despite the Druze community's statements about Israeli soldiers not being deployed in Sweida, the Israeli military has fortified positions in the nearby Quneitra region, indicating a continued presence in the war-torn region surrounding the Druze communities of Syria.
