IDF Hits Syria Military HQ in Defense of Druze Fighters

On Wednesday, Israel announced that Israel Defense Forces assets had struck the Syrian Defense Ministry in Damascus. The action was taken, according to Israel, because of Syria's persecution of its Druze minority.

"The IDF continues to monitor developments and the regime's actions against Druze civilians in southern Syria. In accordance with directives from the political echelon, the IDF is striking in the area and remains prepared for various scenarios," the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) wrote on X.
An Israeli military official said on Wednesday that while the Syrian regime has claimed it is acting to restore order, what is happening on the ground tells a "very different story." The official added that the more the regime intervenes "the worse it gets."

Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu has cautioned Israeli Druze against going to Syria to join the sectarian violence now sweeping that country:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also put out a statement saying that his country's forces were "acting to save our Druze brothers and eliminate the regime's gangs" and warning Druze in Israel not to go into Syria.
"I have one request of you: You are citizens of Israel. Do not cross the border," Netanyahu said on Wednesday. "You are endangering your lives; you could be killed, you could be kidnapped, and you are harming the IDF’s efforts. Therefore, I ask you, return to your homes, let the IDF do its work."

The Druze are a significant religious minority not only in Syria but also in Lebanon and Israel, with small populations elsewhere outside the Middle East. While the Druze are ethnically Arab and speak primarily Arabic, they do not refer to themselves as Muslim. However, the Druze faith was originally an offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shia Islam. The Druze faith, since its founding, has absorbed elements of Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and other religions and philosophies.

It is belaboring the obvious to note that the history of Muslim-majority nations in dealing with religious minorities has not been good.

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There is a significant Druze minority in Israel, where they are treated rather better.

The Druze are a prominent minority in Israel, where members of the community hold key military positions. In 2015, Col. Ghassan Alian, who is Druze, became the first non-Jewish commander of the Golani Brigade. Additionally, unlike other minorities in Israel, Druze males are not exempt from conscripted military service.
"Israel is committed to preventing harm to the Druze in Syria due to the deep brotherhood alliance with our Druze citizens in Israel, and their familial and historical connection to the Druze in Syria – and we are acting to prevent the Syrian regime from harming them, and to ensure the demilitarization of the area adjacent to our border with Syria," a joint statement by Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz read.

This latest round of fighting in southern Syria began with clashes between government forces, local Sunni Arab tribes, and the Druze. Syrian government forces have been accused of crimes in the area, including looting and murders, aimed at the Alawite and Christian communities as well as the Druze.

As of this writing, there has been no direct response by Syria to the IDF attack.

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