Israel Launches Airstrike Near As-Suweida to Protect Syrian Druze from Extremists

As Israel marked Remembrance Day with solemn ceremonies honoring its fallen, it also demonstrated its enduring commitment to the Druze community both within its borders and beyond by launching a targeted airstrike in Syria on Wednesday.

The Israel Defense Forces struck an extremist group near the town of As-Suweida in Syria’s Damascus Governorate, a faction reportedly mobilizing to attack the local Druze population. The coordinated announcement came in a rare joint statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz.

“Israel will not allow harm to come to the Druze community in Syria,” the statement declared, citing the nation’s “deep commitment to our Druze brothers in Israel, who are tied by family and historical bonds to their Druze brothers in Syria.”

The statement also sent a clear warning to Damascus: Israel expects the Syrian government to prevent further violence against the Druze. The message reinforced the unity felt between the Jewish and Druze communities, especially poignant on a day commemorating those who gave their lives for the State of Israel.

Israel’s Druze population has long stood as a proud example of shared destiny and sacrifice. Druze citizens serve at the highest levels of the Israel Defense Forces and government. Many have paid the ultimate price. “On this Remembrance Day,” the statement continued, “we remember the great contribution of the Druze community to Israel’s security and the Druze who gave their lives in defense of the State of Israel.”

The military action came amid growing unrest among Druze communities across the region. In Israel’s north, dozens of Druze citizens gathered at the Kafr Yasif junction in protest against recent sectarian violence in Syria, specifically in the city of Jaramana near Damascus. Protesters set tires ablaze and temporarily blocked traffic routes, including access to military cemeteries, creating significant congestion in the Western Galilee.

Police forces intervened to restore order while ensuring mourners and families could safely attend Remembrance Day ceremonies at nearby cemeteries.

Israel’s support for the Druze community, both symbolically and through strategic defense operations, remains a powerful testament to the values of mutual responsibility, loyalty, and shared fate. These are not just words etched in stone but actions carried out in real time even across borders.

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