IDF chief vows to defend Druze as Israel intensifies Syria strikes

In a powerful declaration of purpose and protection, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir vowed Wednesday evening that Israel will not permit southern Syria to become a terror stronghold, as the military continues a robust campaign against regime forces responsible for atrocities against the Druze community in Sweida.

Speaking from the IDF’s Camp Nafah in the Golan Heights, Zamir emphasized Israel’s commitment to safeguarding both its citizens and the Druze population under siege across the border. “We are acting with determination to prevent hostile elements from establishing a presence beyond the border,” he said. “We will defend the communities along the border and prevent the harming of Druze civilians.”

The statement came after Israeli airstrikes targeted regime military infrastructure in Damascus and armored convoys heading to the Jabal al-Druze region, following shocking reports of massacres, rapes, and destruction perpetrated by forces loyal to Syrian strongman Ahmed al-Sharaa a former Al-Qaeda terrorist.

Defense Minister Israel Katz reinforced the message: “The Syrian regime must leave the Druze in as-Sweida alone. The IDF will continue to strike until regime forces withdraw and will soon raise the level of its responses if the message is not understood.”

Following intensive Israeli strikes and international mediation, Syrian regime forces reportedly withdrew from the area, with IDF intelligence noting early signs of a ceasefire. But tensions remain high, and the IDF has reinforced its presence along the border with engineering obstacles and additional battalions to prevent unauthorized crossings and infiltration.

This week, hundreds of Israeli and Syrian Druze crossed the border fence in both directions, seeking to rescue relatives or escape the violence. Prime Minister Netanyahu urged Israeli Druze to avoid crossing into Syria, saying, “Let the IDF do its job.” Two Druze MKs, Hamad Amar and Afif Abed, entered Syria under IDF protection to rescue trapped youths.

“What happened yesterday in the Druze Mountains was a massacre,” Amar said. “They raped girls aged 5, 7, 10… killed women and burned homes. It reminded me of the Holocaust.” His harrowing words highlighted the scale of the brutality, which Israeli leaders have compared to Hamas’s Oct. 7 atrocities.

Minister Amichai Chikli condemned the silence of Western leaders. “This is the October 7 of the Druze minority in Syria,” he declared, underscoring the horror of the situation.

Israel’s actions go beyond national defense they reflect a moral commitment to its Druze citizens and their kin across the border. At a time when the world turns a blind eye to terror in the Levant, Israel stands as a guardian.

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