By Mirna Fahmy

Once touted by Israel as a model of peaceful coexistence and collaboration, Syria’s Druze community now finds itself in a crucible of deadly sectarian violence.

In late April and early May 2025, this ethno-religious group, whose faith emerged from Isma’ili Islam, was caught in a wave of deadly sectarian violence, particularly in areas south of Damascus such as Jaramana, Sahnaya, and Sweida. Over 100 people perished in clashes between Druze fighters and pro-government or Islamist groups. Tragically, Christians were also targeted in these attacks, evidenced by a widely shared viral video depicting armed attackers forcibly shaving the heads of a group of male youths.

The immediate trigger was the circulation of an audio recording on social media, allegedly featuring a Druze cleric making derogatory remarks about the Prophet Muhammad. The cleric, Marwan Kiwan, denied responsibility, but the recording sparked outrage among Sunni Muslims and led to calls for retaliation against the Druze. Despite swift condemnation from Druze religious leaders and the Syrian Ministry of Interior confirming the cleric’s innocence, the situation escalated rapidly.

Israel, which has vowed to protect the Druze from the new Syrian government – labeled by Israel and numerous media outlets as ‘Islamist,’ with its ideology often compared to that of ISIS – responded with airstrikes (“warning strikes”) against groups it claimed were preparing further attacks on Druze populations. The Israeli military stated these strikes aimed to send a clear message regarding violence in Druze areas, even directing an air assault near the presidential palace in Damascus, Syria, associated with President Ahmad al-Sharaa (aka Muhammed al Julani).

However, analysts described these strikes as “selective,” highlighting the limitations of such actions in guaranteeing complete protection for all Druze areas, especially amidst fast-moving street battles.

Demonstrating their commitment to the affected Druze, the Israeli military evacuated three Syrian Druze civilians, apparently wounded in the sectarian violence, to a hospital in Israel.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) reported that the three arrived at the Israeli border and were initially taken to the Nafah base in the Golan Heights before being transferred to Ziv Hospital in Safed for treatment.

Echoing these sentiments, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz both made a solemn oath to the Druze communities in Israel: “Israel will not allow harm to the Druze community in Syria, out of a deep commitment to our Druze brothers in Israel who are connected by family and historical ties to their Druze brothers in Syria.” They asserted their readiness to direct further strikes on Syria’s new government should they perceive any threat to the Druze.

The statement came as dozens of Druze blocked roads in northern Israel, calling on Jerusalem to intervene in Damascus amid the sectarian clashes. Many have seen that Israel has betrayed the Druze and didn’t give them the protection they promised them.

Is Israel Protecting the Druze?

“In the aftermath of the recent surge in violence, Hikmat al-Hijri, the spiritual leader and cleric of the Druze community in Syria, issued a global appeal: “We need immediate intervention from international peacekeeping forces in Syria to prevent the continuation of massacres.”

Notably, this urgent plea omitted any mention of Israel, a stark contrast to his stance during the deadly March-Ramadan massacres against Alawites, Christians, and some Druze. At that time, al-Hijri explicitly aligned himself with Israel, expressing a preference for Israeli protection and alliance over the new Syrian government, whose “ISIS biography” he asserted rendered them untrustworthy.

Israeli troops maintain a significant presence in southern Syria, particularly in Quneitra province near the Israeli border and the Golan Heights. Their publicly stated mission is to deter “hostile forces” from entering Druze villages and to counter threats against the Druze minority.

However, Syrian journalist and political analyst Ghassan Ibrahim challenged this narrative on X, stating, “Israel did not provide real support to the Druze beyond mere words. The national solution and ensuring the rights of all Syrians require taking responsibility.”

Al-Sharaa’s recent actions have been interpreted by some as a direct message to the Druze: “Submit to my rule, and I will protect you, or face the Islamist militias alone.” Israel consistently brands al-Sharaa’s new government as “Islamist/jihadist” and “terrorist,” firmly ruling out any possibility of engagement.

Debating on this, Ibrahim suggested on X that while Israel might be negotiating with the Damascus government on a modified de-escalation strategy, its portrayal as the protector of the Druze serves as leverage against Damascus. He cautioned the Druze against being misled, reminding them of past agreements with the Assad government that failed to safeguard their interests, implying a similar outcome with al-Sharaa’s regime. He urged them to continue demanding their rights as equal Syrian citizens.

Political analysis speculate that indirect negotiations between Israel and al-Sharaa’s Syrian government are likely based on a confluence of strategic, geopolitical, and pragmatic considerations, despite the lack of concrete evidence. Al-Sharaa has repeatedly voiced a desire to avert conflict with Israel and pursue diplomatic avenues.

For instance, in an April 2025 interview with The New York Times, he emphasized “diplomatic solutions” over military escalation, signaling a pragmatic shift potentially aimed at securing international legitimacy and sanctions relief.

His meetings in April 2025 with the U.S. Representatives Cory Mills and Marlin Stutzman, during which he expressed openness to normalizing ties with Israel “under the right conditions” and potentially joining the Abraham Accords, further suggest a strategic outreach to the U.S., which could facilitate indirect talks with Israel.

Al-Sharaa has consistently called for the lifting of U.S. and Western sanctions, arguing they cripple Syria’s economic recovery. The U.S. has linked sanctions relief to improved relations with Israel and counter-terrorism cooperation. Al-Sharaa’s recent engagements with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), including meetings with regional leaders, indicate an effort to reintegrate Syria into the Arab world.

Normalizing ties with Israel, aligning with the broader regional trend exemplified by the Abraham Accords, could resonate with Gulf states’ interests, particularly Saudi Arabia’s, potentially easing Syria’s path to normalization.

Demonstrating a perceived seriousness about improving relations with Israel, al-Sharaa has reportedly been systematically removing Palestinian factions within the country.

Adding another layer to the narrative, former Israeli-Druze Minister of Communications and Cyber Ayoob Kara stated on BBC Arabic on May 2, 2025, that “Israel toppled Assad with the help of America & Russia, there was direct coordination between Israel & Turkey to bring al-Julani to power & remove Bashar Assad.”

Netanyahu has publicly claimed that Israel played a central role in toppling Bashar al-Assad’s regime, attributing Assad’s fall to Israeli strikes targeting Iranian and Hezbollah forces that supported him.

Corroborating this, Egyptian TV presenter and political analyst Tawfik Okasha reposted a statement from Captain Ella, the Israeli Head of the Arabic media desk in the IDF and Deputy commander of the Spokesperson’s unit, regarding the airstrike on the presidential palace in Damascus. Okasha questioned the logic of the strike if the aim was to target al-Sharaa, asking, “You (Israel), America, and Qatar, didn’t you all bring Ahmad al-Sharaa/ al-Julani? Fine, why didn’t you strike the place where he is, like you did with Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah?”

Similarly, the Alawite Muslim Defence League, which has broadened its focus from solely Alawite issues to include the concerns of other non-Sunni Muslim minorities, has undergone a shift in its perception of Israel. During the deadly March-Ramadan massacres on the Western Coast, they had pleaded for Israeli intervention, even expressing openness to becoming part of Israel.

However, as the massacres continued without significant external intervention, the group began to express disillusionment, suggesting that the interests of major powers like Israel, Russia, and the U.S. superseded the well-being of minorities. They even posted claims that al-Julani/al-Sharaa was temporarily installed by Israel, the U.S., and Türkiye to serve a specific purpose, implying his eventual removal.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) continues its daily reporting on the casualties and atrocities across Syrian cities through its social media platforms.

The enduring conflicts in Syria continue to inflict suffering, particularly on minority communities who remain vulnerable to relentless attacks, thus obstructing any meaningful path towards national reconstruction. Despite Al-Sharaa’s diplomatic engagements, a fundamental impediment to lasting peace remains the conspicuous absence of a genuine movement towards a non-sectarian constitution. Without such a foundational framework that ensures equality for all citizens, the cyclical nature of rebellion and entrenched hatred seems destined to repeat indefinitely.