Syria: Israel bombs Damascus capital
In the troubled landscape of Syria, the Druze community, a minority group primarily residing in the Suwayda region, has been facing significant challenges. The ongoing conflict has resulted in numerous casualties among the Druze community, with reports of threats, attacks, kidnappings, and targeted killings contributing to insecurity and displacement.
Recent clashes between Druzes and Bedouins in Suweida, southern Syria, on July 13, have further escalated tensions. The situation remains volatile due to the ongoing civil conflict and the presence of various armed factions.
In a bid to provide aid, the Druze community, both in Syria and abroad, has been making efforts to support their counterparts in Syria. This solidarity is particularly evident among the Druze community in Israel, which numbers around 150,000, accounting for 2% of the population.
Israel's government has expressed a focus on protecting the Druze community, both in Syria and Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that the country is determined to safeguard the Druze community, as evidenced by his recent statements. For instance, he has urged the Syrian army to let it do its job and has warned the new regime in Damascus about persecuting the Druze minority.
The Israeli government's response to violence against the Druze in Syria is typically cautious, framed within its broader security concerns and geopolitical stance regarding Syria and neighbouring regions. However, Israeli bombing of Syria has been ongoing since Monday, including strikes on the Syrian army headquarters and near the presidential palace in Damascus.
These military actions have not been without consequence, with scenes of panic unfolding at the Syrian army headquarters, which has been hit multiple times, and the headquarters engulfed in thick clouds of smoke. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, there have been over 300 deaths since Sunday in the conflict.
The Druze community in Israel has also been affected by this unrest, with Druzes living in northern Israel attempting to cross the border to help their Syrian counterparts since Tuesday. Reports have emerged of atrocities against the Druze minority, including the forcible shaving of men's beards, a distinctive Druze sign.
Despite the challenges, the Druze community in Israel continues to be an integral part of society and has generally been safeguarded by the state. Israel's government typically condemns violence against any minority and emphasizes the protection of the Druze community, which has a unique position with compulsory military service and significant integration into Israeli society.
As the conflict in Syria continues, the Druze community both in Syria and Israel remains in the spotlight, with hopes for stability and protection growing ever more important.
- The Israeli government, in response to war-and-conflicts in Syria, has expressed a focus on protecting the Druze community, both in Syria and Israel, as evidenced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent statements, which emphasize the country's determination to safeguard the Druze community.
- Amidst war-and-conflicts in Syria, the Druze community in Israel continues to face challenges, such as reports of atrocities against the Druze minority, including the forcible shaving of men's beards, a distinctive Druze sign, highlighting the need for the government's ongoing political efforts to protect this minority group.
