PRESSURES ON SYRIA’S MOSAIC
The Druze are a small but influential minority in Syria, Israel and Lebanon who follow a religion that is an offshoot of a branch of Islam. Some ultra-conservative Sunni Muslims deem Druze beliefs to be heretical.
Citing the goal of protecting the Druze and keeping southern Syria demilitarised, Israel attacked government forces last week in the south and struck the defence ministry in Damascus.
Washington, which has expressed support for Damascus since Sharaa met US President Donald Trump in May, said it did not approve of Israel’s strikes.
US envoy Tom Barrack said on Monday the Syrian government needed to be held accountable. “They also need to be given the responsibility that they’re there to do,” he said, speaking on a visit to Beirut.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz defended Israel’s attacks on government targets, saying they were “the only way to stop the massacre of Druze in Syria”.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, an ally of Sharaa, praised him for showing a strong stance, saying he had not compromised in Syria’s conflict with Israel and he had taken a “very positive” step by reaching an understanding with the Druze.
Residents of Sweida said friends and neighbours were shot at close range in their homes or in the streets by Syrian troops, identified by their fatigues and insignia.
Luna Albassit, a Druze activist in the town of Shahba in Sweida province, said the situation after so much bloodshed remained tense despite the end to clashes late on Sunday.
“People were killed in the streets, in their homes, they were humiliated and it was in the name of the state,” she said.
