Druze under pressure: Syria threatens new bloodshed!

Druze under pressure: Syria threatens new bloodshed!

In Syria, the situation for the Druze minority is getting worse. In recent days there have been violent clashes between Sunni militias and Druze gunmen in the Damascus area. According to reports, since the beginning of the week, more than 100 people killed, which is increasing alarmed voices within the Druze community.

A security agreement was reached between the Syrian government and local militias in Jaramana, a suburb of Damascus. The Druze, a religious minority that emerged from Shiite Islam in the 11th century, are based in Syria, Israel, Jordan and Lebanon. They enjoy a special status in Israel, as many Druze serve voluntarily in the army and are considered allies. In Syria, however, they must face an increasingly hostile environment.

Violence and allegations of genocide

Hikmat al-Hijri, the leader of the Druze minority, describes the current wave of violence as “genocide” and calls for international intervention. He spoke of a "massacre" and emphasized the urgency of the situation triggered by an audio recording in which offensive statements were made about the Prophet Mohammed. The clip, attributed to a Druze cleric, led to violent reactions and increased attacks on the Druze.

Several Druze fighters were also killed in the southern suburbs of Damascus. Nine of the victims were shot immediately while some bodies were burned. Observers see these attacks as a direct threat to the security of the Druze community and warn of the risk of further escalations, especially as many armed groups in Syria increasingly operate independently.

International reactions and Syrian security forces

Amid this situation, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has warned the Syrian government and threatened a harsh response if the attacks on the Druze are not stopped immediately. The [Kleine Zeitung](https://www.kleinezeitung.at/service/newsticker/aussenpolitik/19639140/drusische-milizen-baren-in-syrien-geschere- Waffen-ab) reports that a military intervention by Israel is not ruled out, while the Israeli Air Force has already preemptively attacked targets in Syria that were allegedly planning an attack on the Druze.

The violence poses major challenges for the new Syrian government under interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa as it tries to achieve stability in a country wracked by remnants of civil war. At the same time, ethnic and religious minorities, including the Druze, have increased their demands for autonomy and protection as they have limited trust in the new government.

The situation remains tense and the conflicts are unlikely to subside in the foreseeable future. The Druze already demonstrated in the Golan Heights on April 30 to express their solidarity with the Syrian community. However, developments in Syria cast a shadow over the future of this religious minority, long protected by the Syrian government.

The escalation of violence shows the fragility of Syrian society and poses the question to the international community of whether and how the Druze can be protected. In this complex situation, they need support and attention more than ever.