Large columns of Syrian regime forces rolled into Sweida amid violent clashes between Druze militias and forces loyal to the Sunni Islamist regime. The Israel Defense Forces were instructed on Tuesday to “immediately” protect the Druze minority in Syria by striking Syrian regime forces deployed to the Sweida area of the country’s south, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz told the IDF to “immediately strike regime forces and weaponry that were brought into the Sweida area of Syria’s Jabal al-Druze [Druze Mountain] region for regime activity against the Druze,” according to the statement. Damascus had violated “the demilitarization policy that was decided upon, which prohibits the entry of [regime] forces and arms into southern Syria that could endanger Israel,” it continued.
“Israel is committed to preventing harm to the Druze in Syria due to the deep fraternal alliance with our Druze citizens in Israel, as well as their familial and historical ties to the Druze in Syria,” according to the PMO. (Read More)
