Israel Strikes Syria: Protecting Druze Civilians in Sweida Province

The Israeli military conducted strikes against Syrian government targets overnight, responding to alleged attacks on Druze civilians in the southern province of Sweida, according to statements released Friday by the Israel Defense Forces.

The IDF stated the strikes targeted Syrian military headquarters and weapons facilities across several army camps. “In response to the attacks against the Druze population in the Suwaida region: The Israeli army is attacking Syrian regime infrastructure in southern Syria,” the IDF said. The military added it would “not allow harm to come to the Druze” and is monitoring the situation for further developments.

Details surrounding the initial alleged attack that prompted the Israeli response remain unclear. Druze militia leadership in Sweida province reported on Thursday that nine people were killed following an alleged assault by Syrian internal security forces. The leadership also claimed 12 people were detained at checkpoints and seven Druze civilians were abducted. Casualty figures have not been independently verified.

Damascus has not yet issued a formal statement addressing the alleged attack on Druze civilians. The incident has received limited coverage in Syrian state media. Syria’s foreign ministry later condemned the Israeli strikes as a “blatant violation” of international law and an assault on its sovereignty, accusing Israel of seeking to destabilize the region. The ministry called on the U.N. Security Council to intervene and halt what it described as Israeli aggression.

The Israeli military indicated the strikes were intended as a defense of the Druze population and signaled the possibility of further action. The IDF stated it will continue to operate to defend the Druze community and monitor developments in the region.