July 17, Damascus — The Israeli military carried out airstrikes on Wednesday targeting Syria’s Ministry of Defense in Damascus and government forces in the country’s southern region. Meanwhile, the province of Suwayda—home to the impoverished and largely Druze population—has been gripped by deadly communal violence for a fourth consecutive day.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the operation aimed to “protect our Druze brothers and eliminate regime-backed terrorists.” Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a “treacherous act of aggression,” according to a report by BBC Online.
The violence in Suwayda began on Sunday, with fierce fighting erupting between Druze militias and Bedouin tribal groups. As of Wednesday, over 300 people have reportedly been killed in the clashes.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed deep concern over the escalation, but also voiced optimism. Posting on X (formerly Twitter) Wednesday evening, he wrote:
“We have agreed on certain decisive measures that will bring an end to this horrific situation tonight.”
Syria’s foreign ministry welcomed mediation efforts by both the United States and Arab nations working toward a peaceful resolution of the crisis. Israel has not officially commented on any proposed ceasefire.
According to Syria’s state-run SANA news agency, the army has begun withdrawing from Suwayda. The move comes under an agreement reached between the government and local religious leaders, which stipulates that troop withdrawals will occur once operations against “unlawful armed groups” are completed.
Israeli strikes began on Monday, specifically targeting Syrian security forces and military stockpiles, coinciding with the deployment of pro-government units in Suwayda. These attacks are the first of their kind since Sunni Islamists ousted President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
The Druze community, considered a sect of Shia Islam, remains skeptical of interim President Ahmed al-Sharar, despite his public assurances of protection. In recent months, the community has seen a rise in sectarian violence, intensifying fears of instability. A deadly episode in May saw Druze fighters clashing with regime forces and allied Islamist factions in Damascus and Suwayda.
Following those events, the government agreed to allow local Druze militias to form official security forces—though the current violence has called that decision into question.
