Syrian Druze Region Fuels Tensions Between Damascus and Israel
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS Arabic by baba
Israel has raised its military alert level on the Syrian border due to escalating tensions and fears of attacks against the Druze community in Sweida. Israeli intelligence suggests Syrian authorities may be preparing attacks, prompting a warning from the Israeli Air Force. Syria denies these allegations and accuses Israel of arming rebel groups. U.S. Envoy Tom Barak denied supporting Druze leader Hekmeh Al-Hijri, who was accused of exploiting perceived Israeli and American backing. Analysts offer differing views on the situation, with one Israeli military expert citing border security and another Syrian analyst emphasizing national unity.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israel increased military readiness on its Syrian border amid rising tensions and fears of attacks on the Druze population in Sweida.
- Israeli intelligence reportedly indicates Syrian authorities may be preparing to resume attacks against Druze in Sweida.
- Syria denies the allegations and accuses Israel of arming opposition groups within Sweida.
- U.S. Envoy Tom Barak denied supporting Druze leader Hekmeh Al-Hijri, accusing him of exploiting perceived foreign backing.
- An Israeli military expert cited border security and protection of the Druze as reasons for military movements.
- A Syrian analyst asserted Sweida's integration into Syria and denied threats, highlighting national unity around the leadership.
Israel has heightened its military alert on the southern front in Syria due to escalating political and media tensions, fearing potential attacks against the Druze community in the Sweida province. Israeli security sources expressed growing concern over intelligence indicating that elements affiliated with Syrian authorities are preparing to resume attacks against Druze individuals in Sweida. In response, the Israeli Air Force has intensified its activity in the region as a warning to Damascus. Syria denies these claims, accusing Israel of supplying armed groups in Sweida with weapons, ammunition, funds, and intelligence. U.S. Envoy to Syria and Iraq, Tom Barak, denied any American support for Druze sect leader Sheikh Hekmeh Al-Hijri in Sweida, accusing him of exploiting "the illusion of Israeli and American support" to assert his influence over the Druze community. Reserve Colonel Moshe Aiad stated that Israeli military movements are aimed at protecting the Druze community and preventing potential security threats on the border. He noted that Israel is currently uninterested in a peace agreement with the current Syrian leadership under Ahmed Al-Shar'a due to ongoing security instability and Israel's insistence on maintaining control over the occupied Golan Heights. Political analyst Rabie Al-Shaar emphasized that Sweida is an integral part of Syria and denied Israeli claims of real threats, asserting that the Syrian people, across all their components, rally around the current leadership and its head, Ahmed Al-Shar'a, through a "pledge of allegiance" during the transitional phase. Al-Shaar affirmed that the Syrian state seeks national reconciliation and the return of Sweida to the fold of the nation, condemning what he described as the "trading" in the Druze community for Israeli political and electoral gains.
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