Netanyahu Reveals Secret Talk With Syrian President Ended Druze Massacre
Translated & summarized from Israel Hayom by baba
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed he spoke with Syrian President Ahmed al-Shar'a to stop a massacre of Druze in southern Syria. The brief, sharp conversation led to the cessation of violence, Netanyahu said at a Druze community conference. The events in July 2025 in al-Suwayda involved sectarian clashes and Syrian regime forces, prompting Israeli military strikes. Israel pledged continued protection for the Druze, with relations between Israel and Syria strained by the crisis.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Syrian President Ahmed al-Shar'a to stop a Druze massacre.
- Netanyahu stated the "very short, very sharp conversation" led to the massacre stopping.
- The violence occurred in July 2025 in al-Suwayda, southern Syria, involving Druze, Bedouin, and Syrian regime forces.
- Israel struck Syrian regime targets, declaring it would not permit harm to the Druze.
- The crisis strained relations between Israel and the Syrian government.
- Netanyahu pledged Israel's continued commitment to protecting the Druze.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed on Sunday that he held a brief, sharp conversation with Syrian President Ahmed al-Shar'a during a period of violence against Druze citizens in southern Syria, which subsequently ceased. "It was a very short, very sharp conversation, and the massacre stopped," Netanyahu stated at a conference for the Druze community. He added that Israel would continue to act to protect the Druze, saying, "I will do whatever is necessary to protect our Druze brothers. There is still work to be done, I cannot tell everything."
The events Netanyahu referred to occurred in July 2025 in the southern Syrian city of al-Suwayda, home to a large Druze population. The violence began as clashes between Druze militants and Bedouin tribes, escalating to include Syrian regime-aligned forces. Hundreds were killed in the sectarian violence, with reports indicating that regime-aligned forces also harmed Druze civilians. Israel responded by striking Syrian regime military targets, declaring it would not permit harm to the Druze and their security in southern Syria. An initial ceasefire was announced following the Israeli strikes, though reports of violations and renewed clashes emerged.
The incidents heightened tensions between Israel and the new Damascus government led by al-Shar'a, making the protection of the Syrian Druze community a central issue in bilateral relations. By October 2026, a rift persisted between the Druze leadership in al-Suwayda and the Syrian government, with the violence continuing to impact residents' lives.
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