Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Saturday night that if the new government in Damascus, Syria, harms the country’s Druze community, Israel will respond
In a joint statement, they said, “If the regime attacks the Druze, it will suffer the consequences at our hands.”
Israeli leaders said they will not allow the “radical Islamic terrorist regime” in Syria to harm the Druze.
“We have ordered the Israeli army (IDF) to prepare and give a clear and firm warning: any attack on the Druze will be met by us,” they said.
They also promised to support the Druze living in Israel by doing whatever it takes to protect their “Druze brothers” in Syria and ensure their safety.
Netanyahu and Katz ordered the Israeli army to organize to defend the town of Jaramana, which is about 3 kilometers southeast of Damascus in the Rif Dimashq (or “Damascus Suburb”) area of “”the Ghouta plain.
Jaramana is a town that is mainly home to Druze and Christians.
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? Cedar News (@cedar_news) March 1, 2025
https://t.co/hUYrHUmSha pic.twitter.com/A4oF7yCwHg
BREAKING:
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) March 1, 2025
Druze militias in Jaramana, located 3 km south-east of Damascus, start celebrations after Netanyahu’s announcement that the Israeli Army will protect them against the ongoing attack by Syrian government forces. pic.twitter.com/eCRL1xa2UW
Israeli forces are preparing to advance toward Damascus, Syria, to defend the Druze suburb of Jaramana, currently under attack by the Syrian regime (HTS).
— All Patriots Network A.P.N. (@AllPatriotsNet) March 2, 2025
Druze reinforcements have arrived in Jaramana with support from the Israeli Air Force. pic.twitter.com/5e5XtkDIvH
On Saturday, there was an exchange of gunfire in Jaramana between Syrian government forces and local armed groups, according to Syrian media.
One person was killed and two were injured in the clashes.
Israel’s public broadcaster Kan reported that the clashes were caused by a local dispute, not an attack organized by the Syrian government.
Last week, during a graduation ceremony for new Israeli army officers, Netanyahu issued a warning to the Sunni jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which now controls Syria after the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime in December.
He said Israel “will not allow HTS or the new Syrian army forces to enter the territory south of Damascus.” Netanyahu also said the Israeli army would remain indefinitely in the Mount Hermon area and the security zone in the Syrian Golan Heights to protect Israeli communities and prevent threats.
In addition, Reuters news agency, citing four sources familiar with the matter, reported that Israel is pressuring the United States to keep Syria weak and divided.
This includes allowing Russia to maintain its military bases in the country to balance Turkey’s growing influence in the region.
Israeli officials, concerned about Syria’s new Sunni Islamist rulers, who are backed by Turkey, have told Washington that they pose a danger to Israel’s borders.
“Israel fears that Turkey will intervene to protect the new Islamic regime in Syria, which could become a base for Hamas and other militant groups,” said Aron Lund, a senior fellow at Century International in the United States and a Middle East analyst at the Swedish Defense Research Agency (FOI).
It is unclear to what extent the Trump administration is willing to accept Israel’s ideas, Reuters sources said.
Published in 03/02/2025 06h14
Text adapted by AI (Grok) and translated via Google API in the English version. Images from public image libraries or credits in the caption.
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