Israel's Strikes on Syria: Why Are They Attacking and Who Are the Druze?

Syria's Deadly Sectarian Violence Erupts Again

Syria has been plunged into another wave of deadly sectarian conflict, highlighting the country's fragile security situation as the new government struggles to maintain control over divided territories. The violence began on July 13, 2025, when the kidnapping of a Druze merchant triggered fierce clashes between Druze militias and Bedouin tribes in southern Syria. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), at least 350 people have died in Sweida province since the conflict began.

The current violence represents the first major outbreak in the Druze-majority Sweida region since clashes between Druze fighters and Syria's new security forces left dozens dead in April and May 2025. This latest escalation has drawn international attention and prompted military intervention from Israel, which claims to be protecting the Druze minority from government forces.

Israel's Military Intervention: Protection or Expansion?

On July 15, 2025, Israel launched military strikes against Syrian government forces, claiming it was acting to protect the Druze community and eliminate pro-government forces attacking them in Sweida. The Israeli Defense Forces initially targeted security units and vehicles in Sweida, but by July 16, the scope expanded to include Syria's Defense Ministry and military headquarters in Damascus. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared on social media that the warnings to Damascus were over and painful strikes would begin.

The dramatic escalation was captured live on Syrian television when a news anchor was forced to take cover as Israeli missiles struck near the Defense Ministry building. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israeli forces were working to save our Druze brothers and dismantle regime factions. However, Syrian authorities condemned what they called Israel's treacherous aggression and accused Israel of deliberately escalating tensions to sow chaos and undermine Syria's security and stability.

Understanding the Druze: A Unique Religious Minority

The Druze are a distinctive religious and ethnic minority group residing primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and the Golan Heights. They speak Arabic and practice Druzism, a monotheistic faith that emerged from Shia Islam but has developed its own unique identity and doctrines. The Druze religion is highly secretive and does not accept converts, making it a closed religious community.

Globally, there are approximately one million Druze believers, with about half living in Syria, representing roughly 3% of the country's population. The Druze community in Israel, numbering around 152,000 people including those in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, generally shows loyalty to the Israeli state through military service and is considered pro-Israel. In contrast, most of the approximately 23,000 Druze living in the annexed Golan Heights do not hold Israeli citizenship and still identify as Syrians.

Historical Context and Political Tensions

The Druze have historically occupied an unstable position within Syria's political order. During Syria's 14-year civil war, the Druze operated their own militias in southern Syria, largely staying out of the main conflict. Since the collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024, they have resisted attempts by the central government to control southern Syria.

Syrian Druze forces are divided in their stance toward the new government, ranging from cautious cooperation to open rejection. Many oppose the stationing of government security forces in Sweida, preferring to rely on local militias rather than integrating into the Syrian army. The Syrian government has promised to protect minorities, but allegations have emerged that government forces have conducted summary executions of Druze civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Israel's Strategic Calculations

Israel's recent airstrikes serve multiple strategic purposes beyond claimed protection of the Druze. The strikes aim to prevent Syrian forces from advancing into southern regions and to establish a demilitarized zone, particularly near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights where Israel fears the presence of Islamist armed groups. Since Assad's fall, Israel has intensified its engagement with Syrian minorities, positioning itself as a protector of Kurds, Druze, and Alawites.

In May 2025, during earlier sectarian clashes, Israel struck near the presidential palace in Damascus as a warning against attacks on the Druze. However, some Druze leaders in Syria and Lebanon criticize Israel for exploiting sectarian conflicts to advance its own expansionist agenda. Israel's actions align with a broader strategy to fragment Syria into ethno-religious entities, potentially weakening Damascus and securing Israeli control over the Golan Heights.

International Response and Diplomatic Efforts

The international community has responded with concern to the escalating violence. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the situation as very concerning and announced that specific measures had been agreed upon to end the horrific situation. The US characterized the tensions as a misunderstanding and worked diplomatically with both sides to defuse the crisis.

Multiple Arab countries including Lebanon, Iraq, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, and Kuwait condemned Israel's strikes on Syrian government forces. Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry called it a clear Israeli attack on Syria, while Iran described the attacks as entirely predictable. Turkey, a key stakeholder in post-Assad Syria, characterized the strikes as destructive acts that hinder Syria's peace, stability, and security. UN Secretary-General António Guterres also condemned Israel's tension-escalating airstrikes on Sweida and Damascus.

Future Implications and Regional Stability

The current crisis has exposed the ongoing instability in Syria's post-civil war security and political landscape. The violence raises concerns about potential reignition of sectarian attacks across Syria, threatening national reconstruction and post-war recovery efforts. Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa faces the challenge of unifying various factions while establishing control over Syria.

Whether the Islamist-led government can bridge the deep sectarian divisions that intensified during the civil war remains uncertain. Israel is likely to continue viewing the new government and associated Islamist armed groups in southern Syria as serious security threats, potentially maintaining alliances with groups that feel marginalized by the new administration. The ability of Syria's new government to consolidate power while avoiding external manipulation will be critical to the country's stability and the region's broader security landscape.