Israel strikes Syria 'extremist group' threatening Druze: PM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that the Israeli military struck an “extremist group” in Syria that was preparing to attack members of the Druze community near Damascus.

“The IDF carried out a warning action and struck the organization of an extremist group preparing to attack the Druze population in the town of Sahnaya, in the Damascus region of Syria,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.

Sahnaya lies about 15 kilometers (nine miles) southwest of the Syrian capital and is home to both Druze and Christian communities. The statement added that Israel had sent “a stern message” to the Syrian regime, warning it to prevent attacks on the Druze.

The Israeli strike came as sectarian violence escalated near Damascus between Druze fighters and forces linked to Syria’s new Islamist-led authorities. According to Syrian state media and a war monitor, 13 people were killed in the clashes.

The Druze, a religious minority spread across Syria, Israel, and Lebanon, make up around three percent of Syria’s population, with a heavy presence in the country’s south. In Israel, the Druze are an integral part of society, many serving in the military.

Israel captured much of the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 war and formally annexed the territory in 1981, a move not internationally recognized.

Since former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad was ousted in December by Islamist forces, Israel has intensified its operations in Syria, including air strikes and troop deployments into the Golan’s demilitarized buffer zone.

Israeli leaders have consistently voiced support for Syria’s Druze and expressed deep mistrust of the country’s new leadership.

Wednesday’s strike coincided with Israel’s Memorial Day, which honors fallen soldiers.

“On this Memorial Day... we place great importance on fulfilling our commitment to the Druze community in Israel and to protecting their brothers in Syria,” Netanyahu’s office said.

“Israel will not allow harm to befall the Druze community in Syria out of a deep commitment to our Druze brothers in Israel, who share family and historical ties with their Druze brethren in Syria.”