Targeted for Erasure: Why Syria Hates the Druze?
Dr. Eddie Cohen exposes the extremist ideology behind Syria’s attacks on the Druze, attributing the violence to al-Jolani’s vision of an Islamic empire that excludes minorities. He calls for Israeli intervention and global awareness to counter the regime’s brutality and Western hypocrisy.
The Druze minority in Syria faces relentless violence driven by an extremist ideology under the country’s new leadership, according to Dr. Eddie Cohen, who spoke on Israel This Morning. Despite reports of a fragile ceasefire in Suwayda, a Druze stronghold, Cohen warned, “There’s a ceasefire, but there’s always fire,” highlighting ongoing attacks. He attributes the violence to Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa (formerly Abu Mohammed al-Jolani), who Cohen claims seeks an Islamic empire devoid of minorities. “The man behind this, al-Jolani, operates from a clear worldview: he doesn’t want minorities in Syria, not Druze, not Kurds, not Alawites, not Christians,” Cohen stated. “He’s aiming to establish an Islamic empire, even if he doesn’t declare it publicly.”
Cohen described the deep-seated hatred fueling the assaults: “To Muslims, the Druze are impure, infidels, and traitors. There’s no other way to say it. That’s how Syrians see the Druze.” The recent clashes, sparked by a Druze merchant’s abduction on July 11, 2025, killed over 200, including 92 Druze, with reports of government forces and allied militias humiliating Druze men by shaving their mustaches, a cultural symbol.
Cohen criticized Western governments for engaging with al-Sharaa’s regime, noting, “Just weeks ago, they talked about normalizing with this regime. The West is ready to forgive everything because they want to get rid of Syrian refugees. To pass legal scrutiny, they must call him a ‘man of peace.’ This is unparalleled hypocrisy.” He urged Israel to expose these atrocities globally, stating, “We need to send the world videos of the horrors and humiliation. The world must open its eyes and see this is a terrorist in a suit.”
Israel, with its 143,000 Druze citizens who serve in the military, has a moral and strategic duty to act, Cohen argued. “The Druze can’t hold out without Israeli support,” he said, comparing the situation to Israel’s delayed response on October 7, 2023. “Israel should’ve bombed al-Jolani’s men before they reached and massacred. We promised to protect the Druze, and if they fall, the threat reaches us.” He dismissed hopes of peace with al-Jolani, stating, “This man doesn’t want peace or normalization; he wants to deceive us. Some said, ‘This is the time to seize the moment for peace.’ He wants control, not peace.”