Israel launched a precision airstrike in Syria on Wednesday targeting an “extremist” group reportedly planning attacks on the Druze minority community. The strike occurred in the Damascus Governorate and was part of a broader Israeli effort to prevent sectarian violence against the Druze in southern Syria.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a joint statement underscoring Israel’s “deep commitment to our Druze brothers in Israel.” The religious minority inhabits a territory that spans parts of Israel, Lebanon, and Syria.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that the targeted group was actively preparing violence in the city of As-Suweida, a Druze-majority area roughly 50 miles south of Damascus. “Israel will not allow harm to come to the Druze community in Syria,” the official statement declared. The timing of the strike, on Israel’s Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and terror victims, carried symbolic weight, emphasizing the Druze community’s longstanding contributions to Israeli society and national defense.
Netanyahu and Katz praised the Druze for their loyalty and service. “We are proud of the enormous contribution of the Druze community to Israel’s security, and remember those who gave their lives to defend the State of Israel,” they said. The two men added that “Israel will not allow harm to come to the Druze community in Syria.”
Earlier that day, Israeli Druze citizens demonstrated in solidarity with their Syrian counterparts, protesting Islamist-led violence and expressing frustration with the lack of international attention. The Israeli government made it clear that future Syrian leadership would be held accountable for any threats to the Druze. “We expect the Syrian regime to prevent harm to the Druze population in Syria,” Netanyahu and Katz warned.
This operation is part of a continuing policy by Israel to intervene when credible threats arise against regional minorities closely tied to its own citizenry. Religious and ethnic minorities in Syria, including Druze, Christians, and the Alawite people, have continued to face persecution and violence since the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024. These communities have been targeted by Islamic extremist forces associated with Syria’s current leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa and his al-Qaeda-linked rebel militia turned government security force, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.
