Who are the Druze and why is Israel attacking Syria?

Many among the religious group, a minority in both countries, oppose coming under the rule of Damascus – and view Israel as their protector.

President Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa received a boost in May when he met President Donald Trump; Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says no Syrian forces are to head south of Damacus. Photo-montage: The Times

Syria’s government has withdrawn its forces from the southern Druze city of Sweida after an Israeli military intervention that targeted troops and their headquarters in Damascus. The fighting killed dozens and set back efforts to unify the country after 13 years of civil war.

Who are the Druze?

The Druze follow a syncretic faith that is an offshoot of Islam. They are minorities in Syria, where there are 700,000, Israel, where there are about 150,000, and Lebanon. In Israel, they are seen as a powerful minority that holds senior positions in the military.

In Syria, many of the Druze live in Sweida, which had baulked at joining the new government. They have a number of powerful defence militias, including the Mountain Brigade, and several competing commanders. A prominent one is the religious chief Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, who has opposed coming under the rule of Damascus.

Druze gather in the Golan Heights in solidarity with their brethren in Syria. Picture: Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu/Getty Images

Are they aligned with Israel?

Druze in Syria and Lebanon have been careful not to align themselves with Israel, which is hugely unpopular in both countries. However, the Syrian branch has been in touch with their brethren in Israel and some view Israel as their best protector against Damascus.

Why did Israel attack Syria?

Israel had warned the government against sending troops to the south, saying it wanted to protect the Druze.

The intervention came after Syrian soldiers entered Sweida to end fighting between the Druze and local Bedouin, which quickly turned into sectarian clashes between Sunni government soldiers and Druze militia in which about 200 people have died, according to a Syrian war monitor.

Israel had also sought to carve out a demilitarised buffer zone in southern Syria along its borders.

Sheik Hikmat al-Hijri. Picture: Emin Sansar/Anadolu/Getty Images

How does Israel view President Sharaa?

Israeli leaders have called President Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda commander, an unreformed jihadist. Some ministers have even called for his assassination.

Sharaa, for his part, has held talks with Israel to de-escalate the tensions, while suggesting he might be open to negotiating a broader agreement.

Sharaa received a boost in May when he met President Trump, who praised the leader and lifted sanctions on the country.

What happens now?

Sharaa was forced to withdraw his troops after the Israeli airstrikes and US mediation. By doing so, he conceded Sweida for now as a de facto Israeli protectorate, with no armed presence of his government.

The affair has set back his efforts to unify the fragmented country after he led rebels into overthrowing the dictator Bashar al-Assad in December. Other holdouts, such as the independent Kurds in east Syria, are even less likely now to join his government.

The Times