Israel delivers aid to Syria’s Druze, foreign ministry says

JERUSALEM,— Israel has provided humanitarian aid to Druze communities in Syria in recent weeks, the country’s foreign ministry said Thursday, marking a continued show of support for the minority group.

According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, around 10,000 aid packages have been delivered so far to Druze populations in conflict-hit areas of Syria. The ministry said the operation took place over the past few weeks.

The aid shipments contained essential supplies such as flour, oil, sugar, and salt, and were primarily sent to Suwayda province in southern Syria, the statement said.

The Druze are an Arab minority with a religious tradition that traces its roots to Islam but has developed its own distinct identity. They reside in Syria, Israel, the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, and Lebanon.

In Israel, many members of the Druze community serve in the military, including in the ongoing Gaza conflict, and some have reached high-ranking positions.

Since the removal of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Israeli officials have voiced distrust toward the country’s new Islamist leadership under Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, is the interim president of Syria. His background includes ties to al-Qaeda and ISIS before he went on to establish the al-Nusra Front. Originally aligned with al-Qaeda, the group later rebranded as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

Israeli authorities have labeled his group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), as a jihadist organization. HTS was once linked to Al Qaeda but later distanced itself from the network.

Israel has repeatedly called for the protection of Syria’s minority populations, including the Druze.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said this week that Druze from Syria would now be permitted to enter and work in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in 1967.

Additionally, around 100 prominent Druze figures from Syria are expected to visit the Golan Heights on Friday, members of the community said.

In February 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel would remain in the region as long as needed. He emphasized that Israel would not allow HTS or any newly established Syrian military forces to move into areas south of Damascus. “We demand the complete demilitarization of southern Syria,” Netanyahu said.

(With files from Reuters)