Syrian president accuses Israel of destabilizing South, vows protection for Druze citizens

In a strongly worded national address on Thursday, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa pledged that his government would safeguard the rights and security of all Syrians, particularly the Druze community in the southern region of Suwayda, as the nation grapples with escalating tensions driven by repeated Israeli aggression and foreign interference.

The address came just hours after Israeli warplanes carried out a series of airstrikes targeting critical locations in Damascus, including areas near the presidential palace and military command centers. These attacks, launched under the pretext of defending the Druze population, are widely seen as part of Tel Aviv’s ongoing attempts to divide Syria along sectarian lines and to expand its influence deep into Syrian territory.

“The so-called Israeli state has always worked to fragment our unity and undermine our sovereignty,” President al-Sharaa said. “Their aim is chaos, not peace. Their missiles target not only our cities, but the idea of a united Syria.”

In recent days, the southern city of Suwayda, home to a significant Druze population, has witnessed a surge in armed clashes involving local Druze militias, Bedouin tribal groups, and government security forces. The unrest has left at least 169 people dead, according to local reports, while some external monitoring groups place the toll at over 360.

In response, the Syrian government announced that internal security responsibilities in Suwayda would be handed over to respected local elders and select community factions in a move designed to foster reconciliation and self-governance. Al-Sharaa emphasized that the decision reflects a broader national effort to prevent further bloodshed and empower indigenous leadership, rather than impose top-down rule.

“Our Druze citizens are not just protected under the constitution, they are integral to the Syrian identity,” the president stated. “We will not tolerate any harm against them, nor will we allow foreign powers to use their safety as a justification for military intervention.”

The Israeli strikes, which killed three and wounded dozens, came with an explicit warning to Damascus: withdraw forces from the south or face further escalation. However, President al-Sharaa dismissed such ultimatums as “colonial threats,” asserting that the Syrian army would not abandon its duty to protect national territory from both terrorism and occupation.

Tensions in Suwayda initially erupted following retaliatory attacks between local Druze factions and Sunni Bedouin tribes, fueled by years of mistrust and exacerbated by provocateurs seeking to exploit existing divisions. Reports indicate that some elements within the Syrian military responded with excessive force, incidents the presidency acknowledged and condemned as criminal misconduct.

Still, Damascus maintains that Israel’s rapid militarization of the Golan Heights and its provocative posture in southern Syria have nothing to do with protecting minorities and everything to do with territorial ambitions. “Israel wants to turn our homeland into a battlefield,” al-Sharaa declared. “But Syria will not be split into enclaves. This land belongs to its people.”

Despite public condemnations from Druze leader Sheikh Yousef Jarbou, who supports the ceasefire and government presence in Suwayda, not all community leaders are aligned. Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajari rejected the ceasefire and vowed continued resistance, calling for what he described as the “complete liberation” of the city. His whereabouts remain unknown, and it is unclear whether his forces will respect the current truce.

Speaking to reporters on the ground, analysts warned that the situation remains fragile. “This is not just about internal disputes,” said Mohamad Elmasry, a professor of media studies. “This is about external actors trying to fracture Syria from the outside in. The Israeli attacks are meant to destabilize and redraw the map of Syria.”

In a further sign of international meddling, the United States has expressed “concern” over the fighting and has demanded Syrian troop withdrawals from the southern region. Washington, which has long supported policies that weakened the Syrian state, now positions itself as a neutral mediator. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce downplayed the crisis as “a misunderstanding between new neighbors”, a comment widely derided as tone-deaf and dismissive of the grave consequences of foreign intervention.

Syria’s president ended his speech with a call for unity, resistance, and vigilance against foreign agendas. “We have endured war, siege, and conspiracy. But the Syrian people have not broken. We will remain united, and we will never surrender to those who seek to divide us,” al-Sharaa said.

As the region watches closely, one reality is increasingly clear: the true threat to Syrian sovereignty lies not within, but beyond its borders.