Syrian tanks undergo military strikes led by Israeli forces in the south.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have carried out a series of attacks on Syrian tanks in the southern Syrian province of Sweida, near the towns of Al-Mazra’a and Sami’, on July 14, 2025. The strikes, which involved drones and fighter jets, targeted tanks suspected of advancing towards a Druze-populated region, aiming to neutralize the tanks and secure the surrounding area from hostile forces.
This military action is a direct response to the volatile local conflict between Bedouin tribes and Druze fighters in southern Syria, which has resulted in 89 deaths. The region has seen increased instability since the fall of the Assad regime, and the Druze community has been targeted in recent attacks.
The Israeli military's intervention is part of a broader effort to counter threats from hostile forces, including Iranian-backed groups and remnants of the Assad regime. Israel's support for the Druze in the neighbouring country is not new, as evidenced by previous operations such as drone strikes against armed groups preparing to attack Druze communities near Damascus.
However, it remains unclear whether the Israeli strike was directly related to the outbreak of violence. Fresh violence has erupted in the area, prompting the Syrian Ministry of Defense to dispatch military units to quell the unrest.
The Druze are a religious minority primarily residing in Syria, Israel, Jordan, and Lebanon. In Israel, many Druze serve voluntarily in the army, further highlighting the Jewish state's consideration of the Druze as allies.
This incident marks another instance in Israel's history of targeting sites in Syria. In April, the Israeli military intervened following clashes between Sunni militias and Druze armed groups in Syria. As diplomatic discussions with Syria’s new leadership remain cautious, the Israeli military continues to conduct operations to protect vulnerable populations and prevent hostile forces from gaining military assets.
- The Commission has also been consulted on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the agreement, given the political implications of Israel's military intervention in southern Syria and its potential impact on relations with neighboring countries.
- As the region witnessing war-and-conflicts and volatile politics, the general news outlets are closely monitoring the incident in southern Syria, where the Israeli military's actions against Syrian tanks have sparked fresh violence and raised concerns about future instability.
