Why it matters:
For years, Israel has sought to destabilize Syria by supporting armed groups and separatists. Its latest effort to back the Druze community in southern Syria is a continuation of its long-term strategy to fracture the country, weaken its sovereignty, and create further instability in the region.
What he's saying:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, in a joint statement, declared their full support for the Druze community in Syria, stating that Israel will not allow the Syrian government to harm the Druze population. "If the Syrian government threatens them, Israel will respond decisively.” The statement further indicated that the Israeli military had been ordered to prepare a warning message to Syria’s leadership.
Key points:
- Following Netanyahu’s official endorsement of the Druze in southern Syria, armed Druze militants killed two Syrian security officers in Jaramana, near Damascus.
- Israeli authorities have reportedly offered financial incentives to Syrian Druze to collaborate with the Zionist military.
- Syrian officials have called on Druze elders to hand over those responsible for recent violence.
- Israel continues to employ both economic and military tactics to facilitate Syria’s fragmentation.
Go deeper:
Last week, Netanyahu addressed the Israeli military academy’s graduation ceremony, where he openly called for the complete disarmament of Syrian government forces in southern Damascus. Reports also suggest that the Israeli military has been offering financial inducements to Syrian Druze in an effort to recruit them for its operations.
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