IDF Establishes Clinics, Strengthens Ties with Syrian Druze Near Border

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has established and supported five medical clinics in Druze villages in the Syrian Golan Heights and the area of Khader, providing free treatment to local residents. Dr. Dabous Najm, a native of Ein Qiniya who crossed into Syria in 2004, works at the Khader clinic. He earns approximately $100 per month and also serves as an interpreter for Israeli soldiers, telling Ynet that he fears returning to As-Suwayda due to the risk of assassination for speaking Hebrew. Following the collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024, the IDF has been reinforcing its strategic positions under the command of Brigadier General Yair Palai, commander of Division 210. Ten temporary outposts have been established from the Hermon mountain to the Jordanian border.

Concurrently, Major General Rasan Alian, the Northern Command liaison for Druze affairs, is spearheading initiatives to strengthen ties. These include exploring the establishment of a joint industrial zone, integrating Druze laborers into Israeli agriculture and life-saving professions, and facilitating family reunions for divided families at a designated site near the border. This area is home to approximately 40 extended families.

Alongside the increased military presence, the region is experiencing a construction boom and a sharp rise in property values. The price of an acre of land has surged from $1,000 to around $20,000, driven by Druze residents from Damascus and As-Suwayda seeking to purchase homes near IDF outposts as a refuge from the new regime led by Ahmad al-Shar'a. One resident, known as Abu Saleh, described the complex situation, stating that locals fear openly supporting Israel due to potential repercussions from Syria, yet they also fear retribution from the new regime. He questioned whether Israel's presence in the area is permanent.