Syria's President Issues Stern Warning After Israeli Airstrikes

Amid ongoing clashes and rising sectarian violence, Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara issued a stark warning, attributing the Israeli airstrikes to a deliberate effort to destabilize the country and promising accountability for those responsible for violence against the Druse minority.

President Ahmed al-Shara of Syria delivered a sharp condemnation of Israel following airstrikes in Damascus on Thursday, alleging that the attacks are aimed at creating "chaos" within the nation. The Israeli military targeted sites near the presidential palace and inflicted damage on the Ministry of Defense building. In a televised address, al-Shara denounced Israel’s "wide-scale targeting of civilian and government facilities," which came in response to intense clashes involving Syrian government forces, local Bedouin tribes, and militias representing the Druse religious minority.

This marked the most direct criticism of Israel since al-Shara assumed office earlier in January. The regional unrest was highlighted by conflict in the southern province of Sweida, a crucial area inhabited by the Druse minority and proximate to Israel and Jordan. The violent outbreaks ignited on a Sunday, involving confrontations primarily between Sunni Bedouin factions and Druse militias, prompting the Syrian government to deploy military forces to restore order.

The situation deteriorated as some Druse militia leaders viewed the government’s actions as a potential assault rather than an intervention. This mistrust catalyzed further mobilization among Druse fighters against government troops. As tensions mounted, Israeli forces initiated airstrikes targeting both government positions in Sweida and capital Damascus. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned there would be escalated military actions unless Syrian forces withdrew from the contested Sweida region.

Over recent months, Israel has conducted numerous airstrikes on southern Syrian targets since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime by al-Shara's rebel group in December. However, the latest attacks represent a marked increase in the intensity of Israel's operations. According to reports from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, clashes in Sweida have resulted in over 350 fatalities, including civilians and fighters on both sides.

By early Thursday, conditions seemed to stabilize, following a US-mediated agreement aimed at de-escalating violence. Al-Shara asserted that the Israeli strikes could have sparked larger conflicts, were it not for international diplomatic efforts. In conjunction with a prominent Druse spiritual leader, Syria announced a ceasefire, with reports indicating that government troops began their withdrawal from Sweida. Al-Shara reassured that security responsibilities in the area would be transitioned to local elders and factions, emphasizing that the state's commitment to protecting the Druse community was paramount.