Israel attacks Syria: Protection of Druze or Escalation?

Israel attacks Syria: Protection of Druze or Escalation?

Suweida, Syrien - On May 3, 2025, the Israeli forces once again flown military attacks on objectives in Syria. These attacks were directed specifically against a military facility, aircraft guns and rocket positions to ensure the security of the Israeli civilian population, as was explained in a military announcement. The Israeli Air Force has bombed goals in Syria several times in the past, whereby the focus is on protecting the druses.

The Drusen, a religious minority in Syria, Israel, Jordan and Lebanon, play a special role in this argument. Many Drusen in Israel voluntarily serve in the army and are considered important allies of the state. In the past few days, there have been violent clashes between Sunni militias and drusian armed in Syria, in which, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, over 100 people lost their lives. These fights were triggered by a controversial audio recording, which was considered insulting to the Prophet Mohammed.

reactions to the attacks

The Syrian transitional government has referred to the Israeli air raids as "dangerous escalation" and asks the international community and Arab states to act against the "repeated Israeli aggression". Israel justified the attacks with the protection of the Drusen in Syria. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Defense Israel Katz emphasized that the attacks were a message to the Syrian regime to guarantee the protection of the Drusen. However, this view is not shared by everyone.

Qatar, for example, condemned the attacks as the "act of aggression" and "serious breach of international law". In Syria there were also protests against the Israeli air raids, while the spiritual leader of the Drusen in Israel, Sheikh Muwafak Tariff, expressed his gratitude towards Netanyahu for the protection of the Drusen.

international dimension

Israel's recent military activities raise questions about stability in the entire region. In the past few weeks, the new Syrian leadership, led by President Al-Sharaa, has emphasized that he wants to protect the minorities in the country, despite the ongoing massacre of civilians in Alawite regions in March. The Drusen in Israel have in the meantime blocked roads to show their support for their faith brothers in Syria.

The Situation remains tense, both because of the inner conflicts in Syria and on the basis of the external military interventions that could bring further escalation. The international community observes developments with concern because the regional tensions continue to stop and the potential for further violence.

For more information about the current status of the conflict and the role of the Drusen In this situation you can report the reports of vienna.at , tagesschau.de and Visit.