Syrian forces, Druze, Israelis clash
The drama continues in southern Syria, where animosity between Druze and Bedouin tribes has boiled over in the city of Suwayda. Fighting between the two sides escalated when Syrian government forces entered the city in support of the Bedouin and began engaging Druze fighters. Israel, which supports the more than 700,000 Druze in Syria, launched airstrikes against Syrian government forces entering the city. According to Reuters, Druze spiritual leaders announced that government forces would be welcomed into the city, providing they stopped the violence. When government troops joined tribal militias in firing on locals and set fire to a shop that sold alcohol, the Israeli government decided to intervene. Citing the “deep brotherhood” between Syrian and Israeli Druze, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered airstrikes against regime forces and equipment entering he city. Netanyahu stated that the use of government forces in Suwayda is a breach of the new Syrian government’s demilitarization policy. The deployment of Israeli ground forces to southern Syria is a possibility.
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