Druze Sect Faces Mass Protests, Deadly Clashes Syria Sweida

Since the fall of the Assad regime in late 2024, the Druze minority in southern Syria has experienced escalating conflict and insecurity amid the rise of the new regime led by Ahmed al-Sharaa. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has demanded the demilitarization of southern Syria and threatened intervention to protect the Druze community following sectarian clashes, reflecting Israel's role as a protector of the Druze. The Druze spiritual leadership has engaged with U.S. officials, including envoy Thomas Barrack, seeking humanitarian aid and security guarantees, as government forces and allied militias have clashed violently with Druze fighters. In July 2025, intense fighting in the Druze-majority province of Sweida resulted in approximately 1,600 deaths, including Druze civilians and militias, Bedouin tribes, and Syrian government forces, with Israel conducting airstrikes to prevent Syrian military advances. Widespread protests demanding Druze self-determination and independence have occurred, with demonstrators openly carrying Israeli flags as a symbol of gratitude and appeal for support, reflecting deep distrust toward the new Syrian government’s promises. Human rights investigations have documented gross violations against the Druze, including extrajudicial killings, disappearances, and sectarian abuses, underscoring the fragile security situation and the Druze community's precarious future within Syria.