The Israeli army announced on Saturday, that it had deployed forces in southern Syria, saying the operation’s objective was to protect the Druze minority following recent attacks on the minority by HTS-affiliated jihadists.
The move comes as tensions rise in Syria’s southwestern regions following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Israel asserted that it was responding to the entry of “hostile forces” into the region, citing its responsibility to safeguard the Druze population.
In a brief statement, the Israeli military said it continues to “monitor developments while maintaining readiness for defense and various scenarios.” While the number and scope of Israeli forces deployed were not disclosed, the statement marks a significant escalation in Israel’s involvement in Syria since the downfall of Assad’s regime on December 8, 2024.
This military action follows a series of Israeli airstrikes inside Syria, including an attack early on Friday targeting the vicinity of the presidential palace in Damascus—a direct warning to Syrian leadership, particularly former HTS terrorist and current so-called president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, better known Muhammed Jolani.
Israeli forces subsequently struck targets near Damascus, Hama, and southern Syria, resulting in the deaths of at least five people, including four members of the Druze community in an airstrike near Suweida.
The attacks come amid rising sectarian violence in Syria, particularly in areas like Jaramana, Ashrafiyat Sahnaya near Damascus, and the countryside of Suwayda. These regions have seen increasing unrest fueled by Sunni jihadists and terrorist groups affiliated with the extremist-led “government” of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.
In response to the growing threat to stability, Israel’s says its military actions aim is to safeguard the Druze community, ensuring their protection from the violence spreading across the region.
In a separate statement on Friday, the Israeli military revealed that it had evacuated five Druze citizens from Syria for medical treatment, although further details were not provided.
Israel’s intervention in southern Syria has sparked controversy, with critics accusing the country of pursuing a broader agenda to divide Syria along sectarian and ethnic lines.