Tensions escalate in southern Syria with recent clashes leading to airstrikes, local unrest, and a fragile ceasefire.
Israel Launches Airstrikes Amid Escalating Clashes in Druze Region

Israel Launches Airstrikes Amid Escalating Clashes in Druze Region
Israel intervenes as Syrian forces enter Suweida following violent sectarian conflicts.
Israeli airstrikes targeted Syrian government forces near the Druze-populated city of Suweida after a series of lethal clashes between Druze militias and Bedouin tribes. The violent confrontations, which began on Sunday, have reportedly resulted in around 100 fatalities. Despite a ceasefire announcement from Syria's defense minister on Tuesday morning, aimed at deploying security forces in the area, one Druze spiritual leader has called on local fighters to oppose this intervention.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remarked on the situation, confirming that he authorized military action to destroy Syrian forces and their weapons in the Suweida region. Netanyahu emphasized that the objective was to protect the Druze community, which shares historical and cultural ties with Druze people in Israel and the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights.
This incident marks the first notable deployment of Syrian government forces in Suweida since the ascendance of Islamist factions, which ultimately resulted in the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad in December. The Druze community, a minority in Syria, has largely mistrusted the ruling powers, which have vowed to ensure their safety. Until now, the region has primarily remained under the control of local Druze militias, who have resisted integrating into President Assad's military structure, demonstrating the fragile dynamic that continues to unfold in the region.