Israeli Golan Heights to Host Visiting Syrian Druze Officials

A delegation of 100 Syrian Druze leaders is set to visit the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights on Friday, where they will meet with Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, the spiritual leader of Israel’s Druze community. The visit, reported by Reuters, comes as Israel strengthens ties with the Druze amid growing concerns over their safety in war-torn Syria.

While there has been no official confirmation from Israel’s Foreign Ministry, Defense Minister Israel Katz recently announced that Syrian Druze will be allowed to work in Israel, with the program set to begin Sunday.

The Druze, a small Arab ethnic minority found in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel, are known for their strong loyalty to the states in which they reside. In Israel, most Druze men serve in the IDF and security forces, with many reaching senior ranks.

Amid reports of ethnic massacres in Syria following the rise of Ahmed al-Shara’a (also known as Abu Muhammad al-Julani), Israel has issued a direct warning to the new regime.

"We will not allow the terrorist regime of radical Islam in Syria to harm the Druze," Israeli leaders Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel Katz stated in a joint message on March 1.

"If the regime harms the Druze, it will be harmed by us."

Israel remains deeply skeptical of Syria’s new government, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) a group with ties to jihadist movements and backed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. With tensions rising, the IDF has reinforced its presence in the Hermon sector and buffer zone in the Golan Heights, vowing to protect Israel’s northern communities and deter any threats.

Israel stands firmly with its Druze allies, both at home and beyond its borders. Share this article or subscribe to our newsletter for real-time updates on Israel’s ongoing security efforts.