Netanyahu Threatened Syrian President in Dramatic 2025 Call Over Druze Massacre

Details of a dramatic and unprecedented phone call between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Syrian President Ahmed al-Shar'a on July 16, 2025, have been revealed. During the conversation, Netanyahu demanded an immediate withdrawal of Syrian forces and warned of escalating attacks. Al-Shar'a requested 48 hours to address the issue, but Netanyahu insisted on immediate withdrawal, stating, "It is unacceptable. First, you withdraw the forces."

Netanyahu issued a clear ultimatum, stating, "I want to be concise. Apparently, the message from the mediators did not get through properly. Genocide is being committed against the Druze. By 10 PM, your forces must withdraw from Sweida." Al-Shar'a responded, "I had hoped the conversation would proceed differently."

The call, which took place at 1:30 PM, was followed hours later by Israeli military strikes on key targets in Damascus, including the presidential palace and the Syrian Chief of Staff's building, fulfilling Netanyahu's threat. This conversation is part of approximately 1,000 documents held by the State Comptroller detailing significant security and political discussions over the past three years.

The report references the brutal murder of hundreds of Druze in southern Syria during the summer of 2025. Following three days of intense fighting, a ceasefire was declared by President Al-Joulani, and the withdrawal of jihadist militias revealed the extent of the massacre carried out by his forces. The atrocities included rape, murder of women and children, and the destruction of villages. Al-Joulani blamed the West for the events, but faced public criticism, especially after over a thousand Israeli Druze crossed the border to assist their brethren, some being welcomed with cheers in Syrian Druze villages. During that period, cheers for the IDF were also heard from Sweida, indicating a sense of abandonment by the Damascus regime.