 "248 dead in Syria clashes: Israel strikes army HQ & warns Damascus to ‘leave the Druze in Sweida alone’")
Following days of strikes in southern Syria amid sectarian violence, Israel on Wednesday struck the Syrian army headquarters in Damascus.
The Israeli strike followed warnings to Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa to “leave the Druze alone”. In recent weeks, pro-regime fighters have repeatedly clashed with the Druze people and dozens of people from the minority community have been killed.
At least 248 people, including at least 92 Druze community members, have been killed in clashes in southern Syria’s Sweida province in recent weeks, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). The violence has continued even as Syrian military has been deployed in the area to contain the violence. However, the SOHR said that at least 21 Druze community members were executed by the military itself.
The latest round of fighting erupted after Druze fighters and Sunni Bedouin tribes clashed after an abduction of a Druze merchant.
The SOHR, witnesses, and Druze community members have said that the Syrian military has intervened in these clashes on the side of Bedouins and against the Druze community, according to AFP.
This is the latest round of sectarian violence under Al-Sharaa’ regime. Previously, pro-regime groups had massacred more than 1,000 minority Shia Alawites.
The Druze are a distinct religious group that is a minority in Syria. The Druze people trace their origins to the present-day Lebanon, Syria, and northern Israel in the historic Levant region of West Asia.
Israel ramps up strikes after warnings over Druze attacks
Amid reports that the Syrian military joined pro-regime fighters in attacks on Druze people and went on a rampage against them in the Sweida province, Israel said it bombed the Syrian army headquarters in Damascus.
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View AllIsrael has committed itself to their protection in Syria and has said it may “raise the level of responses against the (Syrian) regime if the message is not understood”.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz told Al-Sharaa to “leave the Druze in Sweida alone”.
“As we have made clear and warned, Israel will not abandon the Druze in Syria and will enforce the demilitarisation policy we have decided on,” Katz further said.
Katz further said that Al-Sharaa should withdraw its military and warned that Israel would continue military actions until the withdrawal.
Earlier in February, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that southern Syria must be completely demilitarised and warned that Israel would not accept the presence of Al-Sharaa’s forces.
Amid ongoing tensions, Israel announced the deployment of more troops to the armistice line between the occupied Golan Heights and Syrian-controlled territory, according to AFP.
“In accordance with the situational assessment, the (Israeli military) has decided to reinforce its forces in the area of the Syrian border,” an Israeli statement said.
Israeli Druze leader, Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, called the situation in Syria “an existential battle for the Druze community”.
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