SUWEIDA — Israel carried out airstrikes on Syrian government forces near the southern city of Suweida on Tuesday, following the military’s entry into the area after two days of violent sectarian fighting that has left more than 100 people dead.
The strikes came hours after Syria’s Defense Ministry announced a ceasefire and confirmed that troops had been deployed to restore order in the majority-Druze city. The ministry claimed the move followed consultations with local elders.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had authorized the bombing to prevent Syrian forces from turning their weapons on the Druze community. “We will not allow the use of military force against the Druze population,” Netanyahu stated. “Our bonds with the Druze in Syria, and those living in Israel and the Golan Heights, are historic and strong.”
Tensions in Suweida erupted on Sunday, when heavy fighting broke out between Druze militias and Bedouin tribal fighters. The cause of the clashes remains under investigation, but local reports suggest a dispute over land and influence escalated into armed violence.
By Tuesday, casualty figures had climbed sharply. Medical workers and monitors in the region reported that at least 100 individuals had died, with dozens more injured. The full scope of the damage in the city has yet to be assessed.
Syrian state media reported that Defense Minister Ali Mahmoud Abbas had negotiated the ceasefire terms with local Druze leaders. However, not all factions agreed to the deal. One influential Druze religious figure issued a call for continued resistance, warning that government reinforcements could trigger more violence.
The Syrian government’s re-entry into Suweida marks the first such deployment since President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown by Islamist-led rebels in December. While the new rulers in Damascus have pledged to protect minority rights, many in the Druze community remain skeptical.
For years, Suweida has functioned as a largely autonomous zone under Druze militia control. These groups had previously declined to integrate into national military structures, citing mistrust of both the Assad regime and the rebel authorities that replaced it.
Israel’s decision to intervene underscores its strategic interest in protecting Druze populations and limiting Syrian military influence near the Golan Heights. This area, partly occupied by Israel, is home to thousands of Druze citizens who maintain close ties with their Syrian counterparts.
No immediate casualties from Israel’s strikes were reported by Syrian officials. However, analysts warn the strikes could further complicate the fragile ceasefire and provoke wider regional tension.
This latest flare-up adds to the growing instability across southern Syria, where overlapping disputes involving tribal groups, religious minorities, and foreign powers have made peace elusive. The situation in Suweida remains fluid as armed units, civilians, and foreign actors brace for what comes next.
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