Israel strikes Syrian government forces in Druze city of Sweida

SWEIDA, Syria,—Israel launched air operations against Syrian government units in the southern province of Sweida on Tuesday, citing efforts to protect the Druze community and maintain a demilitarized buffer zone near the Israeli frontier.

At least four precision strikes were carried out, accompanied by the sound of drones overhead, local sources reported.

A Syrian army tank was seen damaged and later removed from the area, as sporadic gunfire rang out for a third straight day.

The airstrikes came as local Druze militias clashed with Syrian forces and Bedouin tribes in the latest bout of violence in the predominantly Druze city of Sweida.

Tensions have risen steadily since Monday, when Israel first confirmed targeting armored Syrian units in the region.

Israeli officials said they ordered the military response after Syrian regime forces moved weaponry into Sweida.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that the operation was necessary to prevent Syrian forces from threatening the Druze population near the Israeli border.

“Israel is taking action to safeguard the Druze in Syria, in line with our strong ties to the Druze community within Israel,” the joint statement read. “We are ensuring that no military build-up occurs near our borders.”

Earlier in the day, senior Druze religious leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri condemned the Syrian government for breaking a truce and shelling residential areas.

He called on Druze fighters to resist state troops. Hours later, Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra announced a renewed ceasefire, saying government forces would limit operations to self-defense.

The Syrian Interior Ministry confirmed over 30 deaths and around 100 injuries since the clashes began. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the toll was higher, reporting at least 80 fatalities, including children and security personnel.

The confrontations reportedly began after Bedouin fighters established a checkpoint where they robbed a Druze youth, triggering a series of kidnappings and reprisals between the two sides.

Rami Abdurrahman, director of the observatory, said the conflict started with the abduction of a Druze vegetable seller, escalating as both communities carried out retaliatory actions.

On Monday, Israel carried out airstrikes targeting Syrian government tanks in southern Syria, following reports of ongoing clashes between state forces, Druze fighters, and Bedouin tribes.

Later that day, government forces were deployed to stabilize the situation.

Interior Ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba told state broadcaster Al-Ikhbariya TV that troops had entered Sweida early that morning and had encountered resistance from “unlawful armed elements.”

He said authorities were making efforts to avoid civilian harm and restore order.

The situation poses a complex challenge for the Syrian interim government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Sweida province, predominantly Druze, has remained relatively quiet throughout much of Syria’s civil war. However, the recent flare-up marks a significant deterioration in stability, with implications for regional security.

Israel, which controls the nearby Golan Heights, has long expressed concern about the presence of hostile actors near its border. The area has been the site of frequent Israeli air raids targeting Iranian-linked militias and Syrian military infrastructure.

The Druze community, numbering about one million globally, has significant populations in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel, where many serve in the Israeli Defense Forces and are viewed as a loyal minority.

(With files from Reuters | AP)