Israeli Attacks Kill Two Civilians Amid Tensions with Druze in Syria

Israel has carried out multiple airstrikes in Syria, including a strike near the presidential palace in Damascus, claiming the actions are intended to protect the Druze minority from violence amid escalating conflict between Druze fighters and pro-government forces. The Israeli military maintains that its strikes are a deterrent message to the Syrian regime regarding the safety of the Druze community, a stance publicly supported by Sheikh Muafak Tarif, the spiritual leader of Israel's Druze. However, the Syrian Druze community itself rejects Israel's justification, and Syrian authorities have condemned the strikes as dangerous provocations, warning that they exploit sectarian tensions. Recent violence in Druze-populated areas near Damascus has resulted in significant casualties and led to agreements between Syrian government forces and Druze leaders to bolster local security. Both Israeli and Syrian officials have been engaged in outreach to Druze leaders, with calls for transparency and unity from the Druze themselves. Observers suggest that Israel’s intervention risks deepening sectarian divisions in Syria, even as Damascus reiterates its commitment to equal rights for all religious and ethnic groups.