Heavy fighting continued Wednesday in the southern Syrian city of Sweida following the breakdown of a ceasefire between government forces and Druze militias, while Israel ramped up its military involvement, citing its support for the Druze community.
The Israeli military confirmed it carried out airstrikes near the Syrian Ministry of Defense in Damascus. This follows a series of Israeli strikes on Syrian military convoys in southern Syria since the latest round of violence began. Israel has also reinforced its forces along the border.
Syria’s Defense Ministry blamed Druze militias in Sweida for violating Tuesday’s truce, prompting the army to resume operations. A statement said troops are targeting sources of gunfire while observing engagement protocols to protect civilians and help displaced residents return safely.
The renewed violence comes months after a December uprising led by Islamist factions ousted former president Bashar Assad, ending nearly 14 years of civil war. The new Sunni-led government has since faced resistance from religious and ethnic minorities. Tensions worsened in March, when clashes between government forces and pro-Assad militias escalated into sectarian attacks, killing hundreds of Alawite civilians — Assad’s sect.
Growing Violence in Druze Areas
The latest surge in violence was sparked by retaliatory kidnappings and attacks between Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze fighters in Sweida, a stronghold of the Druze population. Government troops sent to restore order have also clashed with Druze groups. Rights groups have reported incidents of looting, extrajudicial killings, and the burning of civilian homes by security forces.
While official death tolls have not been updated since Monday, when the Interior Ministry reported 30 deaths, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates the death toll has exceeded 250, including four children, five women, and 138 members of the security forces. The group also reported that 21 victims were executed in the field.
Who Are the Druze?
The Druze are a small religious minority that originated in the 10th century as a sect of Ismaili Shiite Islam. Of the approximately one million Druze worldwide, more than half live in Syria. Others reside in Lebanon and Israel, including in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in 1967 and annexed in 1981.
In Israel, the Druze are widely regarded as a loyal minority, with many serving in the military. In Syria, however, opinions within the Druze community are split—some advocate cooperating with the new leadership, while others seek autonomy and remain wary of the central government in Damascus.
Israel Issues Warning of Further Escalation
On Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the Israeli military would continue attacking Syrian regime forces until they withdraw and warned of stronger military responses if the warning is ignored.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed the sentiment a day earlier, saying Israel has a responsibility to keep Syria’s southwestern border region demilitarized and to protect Druze civilians.
Israel has adopted a firm stance against Syria's post-Assad leadership, opposing the presence of Islamist militants near its borders. Israeli forces have seized a buffer zone monitored by the United Nations along the Golan Heights and have launched hundreds of airstrikes on Syrian military positions.