GRAPHIC: Islamists slaughter Druze; Druze strike back hard
This is a developing story.
Menawhile, soldiers of al-Julani's army were captured this morning by the Druze at a Druze outpost.
The Druze community in Suwayda, Syria, expressed joy following an Israeli airstrike targeting ISIS positions on the city’s outskirts. Heavy fighting and gunfire have been reported in the Thala area, western Suwayda, as part of the ongoing "Caliphs' Rebellion."
Last Friday:
Clashes between Druze militias and Bedouin tribal fighters in Suwayda province killed at least 37 people, including two children, and wounded around 50 after a robbery on July 11, 2025, on the Damascus-Suwayda highway sparked sectarian violence. A Druze vegetable merchant was assaulted, subjected to sectarian insults, and held captive by Bedouin assailants, prompting Druze militias to retaliate. The fighting, centered in the Al-Maqous district, involved mortars, displaced residents from villages like al-Tireh, and saw homes set ablaze. The Syrian Interior Ministry deployed forces to restore order, but tensions persist.
Background:
Since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, Suwayda has been a flashpoint for tensions between the Druze and the HTS-led caretaker government. The Druze, who maintained relative neutrality during the Syrian Civil War, have historically resisted external control, a stance reinforced after the 2018 ISIS attack that killed over 240 people. The current unrest follows a year of protests in Suwayda’s al-Karama Square, starting in August 2023, initially against Assad’s economic policies and later demanding his ouster and the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2254 for a political transition.
HTS and Minority Tensions: The HTS-led government, under al-Julani, has struggled to gain the trust of Syria’s minorities, including the Druze, Alawites, and Christians. Incidents like the burning of a Christmas tree in Suqaylabiyah and attacks on Alawite shrines have inflamed sectarian tensions, with HTS often blamed for failing to curb extremist elements within its ranks, such as Saraya Ansar al-Sunna, which claimed a deadly attack on a Christian church in Damascus in June 2025.
Regional Dynamics: Israel’s airstrikes, aimed at jihadist groups like ISIS, reflect its strategic interest in protecting the Druze, with whom it has ties due to the Druze population in Israel and the Golan Heights. However, these actions risk escalating tensions.
UPDATE: 16:30
Roi Kais reported on Kan Reshet Bet:
Rami, a resident of Jabal al-Druze in southern Syria’s Suwayda province, tells me: "The situation is dire. Armed terrorist gangs are attacking Suwayda from all directions. We have many dead. The road to Damascus is blocked. We have no medicine, no food. Nothing ... Pray for us."
Regarding possible Israeli involvement, he added: "We are asking for assistance through a ground invasion here. That’s how you Israelis can help us or with planes and drones to strike them, because the situation is very, very bad."
According to Open Spource Intel on X, "Syrian sources report that Julani forces (SAA) have seized full control of Al-Mazra’a, located about 12 kilometers from central Suwayda in southern Syria."
The Golan Regional Council reported ongoing IDF strikes deep in Syria, expected to continue, with no changes to civilian guidelines in the Golan Heights despite road closures in the north.
Israel’s actions, including earlier strikes near Damascus and the presidential palace, aim to deter threats to the Druze while signaling to Syria’s new leadership, which Israel views as a potential risk due to HTS’s jihadist roots.
Syrian authorities condemned the strikes as a violation of sovereignty, while UN officials, including Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, criticized Israel’s actions. Druze leaders have called for international protection, with some negotiating with Damascus for local security arrangement.