Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu along with Defense Minister Israel Katz (left) and government secretary, Tzachi Braverman (right). Photo: Abir Sultan / AP / Profimedia
Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Thursday that Israel will respond if the Syrian government fails to protect the minority Druza, after two days of deadly sectarian clashes near Damascus, AFP reports.
“If the attacks on the Druzi will be resumed and the Syrian regime fails to prevent them, Israel will respond with a significant force,” said Minister Kaz.
Israel has intensified support for Druzii in Syria in recent days, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gideon Saar, urged the international community on Thursday to “fulfill its role in protecting minorities in Syria – especially of the Druzi – from its regime and its terrorist gangs.”
At least 101 people were killed in the two days of sectarian clashes near the Syrian capital, most of the Druzi fighters, according to the updated balance sheet that published on Thursday a conflict monitoring organization.
Israeli attack in support of Druzi in Syria
On Wednesday, Israeli forces made a blow against what they described as an “extremist group” who was preparing to attack members of the Druze community near Damascus.
It was the first military attack that Israel announces in support of the Druzi in Syria after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime, reflecting the deep distrust of the Sunns who removed from power the Syrian dictator and representing a challenge for the efforts of the interim president from Damasc. Reuters.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu believes that Wednesday's attack in Sahnaya has sent a “severe message” to the Syrian government.
“Israel will not allow it to be hurt to the Druze community in Syria, from a deep commitment to our Druzi brothers in Israel, who are linked by family and historical ties to their Druzi brothers,” said Netanyahu, quoted by DW.
The management of the Israeli army then ordered the military to prepare to attack Syrian government targets if the Druza community will continue to face violence.
The Israeli army said that two Druzi Syrians were evacuated from Syria on Thursday to be treated to Israel. Wednesday had made a similar announcement about three people.
Did not provide details about the place or the way they were injured.
In Thursday's statement, the Israeli army said that they were transported to the Safed city of northern Israel, “after suffering injuries on the Syrian territory.”
“IDF (the Israeli army, no) is carried out in the south of Syria and is prepared to prevent the entry of hostile forces into the Druze villages,” the statement said.
After the fall of the Assad regime, Israel occupied land in the southwest of Syria, promised to protect Druzi, lobby at Washington to keep the neighboring neighbor and threw a large part of the heavy weapons of the Syrian army.
Sharaa, who was an Al-Qaeda commander before giving up the connections with the group in 2016, has repeatedly promised that he would govern Syria in an inclusive way. However, incidents of sectarian violence, including killing hundreds of Alawiti in March, increased the fears of minority groups on Islamists who now have the power in Damascus.
