Protecting Druze, furthering its strategic interests, maintaining buffer zones: Understanding why Israel decided to launch strikes inside Syria

West Asia is once again on the edge. What began as a local conflict in southern Syria’s Suwayda province between two communities—the Druze and the Bedouin—has escalated into a regional flashpoint. Israeli fighter jets have conducted over 160 airstrikes inside Syrian territory.

The trigger for this attack was brutal crackdown by the new Syrian government against the Druze minority, a group with deep historical and cultural ties to Israel. In response to the violence and mass executions of Druze civilians— videos of some of which have surfaced on social media—Israel Defence Forces started striking Syria, marking a sudden direct action not just for self-defence, but also humanitarian rescue.

However, this was not just about saving Druze but also about inflicting damage to the Syrian military and maintaining buffer zones between Israel and Syria. Israel has accepted an ex-Jihadist as a Syrian President for Geopolitical reasons, but through this attack, Israel made it clear that it will not accept religious and ethnic violence by the government in Syria.

Who are the Druze and why Israel cares

To understand Israel’s military response, we must first understand the Druze people.

The Druze are a small, tightly-knit religious community that emerged in the 10th century from Ismaili Shia Islam but have evolved into a distinct ethno-religious group. They live mainly in the mountainous regions of Syria, Lebanon, and Israel. In Israel, the Druze community is unique—they serve in the IDF (Israeli Defence Forces), participate in civil society, and are considered loyal citizens of the Jewish state. Their identity is intertwined with Israel’s own security fabric.

In southern Syria, particularly Suwayda, the Druze live close to Israel’s Golan Heights. This area has long served as a buffer between Israel and various jihadist groups operating during the Syrian civil war. For Israel, instability in this Druze-dominated region represents not just a humanitarian crisis but also a strategic nightmare. The possibility of another hostile front opening up—this time with Bedouin, which is unacceptable.

The latest round of violence started when a Bedouin tribe set up a checkpoint in Suwayda and reportedly attacked a Druze man. This led to a cycle of retaliations—kidnappings, executions, and tit-for-tat violence. The Syrian regime intervened, not as a neutral party, but in favour of the Bedouins. Local reports confirm that Syrian forces sided with the Bedouins, escalating the violence and leading to over 300 deaths in just a few days, including 27 Druze civilians reportedly executed in cold blood.

Israel issued several warnings to Damascus, urging it to stop targeting the Druze. These were ignored. When visual evidence of mass killings began to circulate, and Druze volunteers inside Israel started crossing the border to protect their brothers, the IDF stepped in. However, Israel’s strike was not limited to militias—it targeted the Syrian Ministry of Defence and army convoys, directly challenging the Al-Shara government’s role in the violence.

President Al-Shara fails Syrians

Al-Shara, the current president of Syria and an ex-Jihadist, had a wonderful chance to establish himself as the leader of Syria. Bring peace, prosperity, business and investment to the long-sanctioned Syrian society. Regional players like Saudi Arabia, Turkey and even to an extent Israel, with global players like the US, are positive towards him for different reasons.

He should understand the scenario and should protect Syrians rather than injecting violence into society. However, the attacks on the Druze minority tells a different story. After multiple warnings from Israel, Al-Shara did not act against the violence rather his forces supported it. This triggered the response from Israel.

America steps in—But it’s not that simple

The US has now stepped in, calling for restraint. However, its position is complicated. Syria is not part of the American camp. However, in recent years, under request from Turkey and Saudi Arabia, even Washington has engaged with Al-Shara when Trump was on a visit to West Asia. Both nations had their own reasons. Turkey wants to reduce refugee inflows. Saudi Arabia seeks to bring Syria into a broader Sunni axis.

That does not mean Syria is now an ally. Moreover, this is where the “bloc” theory fails. Global alliances today are transactional, not ideological. For example, just because India is talking to China does not mean it has joined the Chinese camp. Similarly, American outreach to Syria does not imply trust—it is tactical, driven by temporary needs.

The bigger picture: Israel’s future borders

Some analysts believe this move also fits into a larger Israeli vision—what some call “Greater Israel.” While this theory is often misused or exaggerated, the current reality is this: Israel wants stable, secure buffer zones around its borders, especially in regions where its own minorities, like the Druze reside.

By protecting the Druze, Israel not only wins the moral high ground but also gains influence over a strategic area of Syria. The goal is not to annex territory, but to ensure that enemies do not control it.

As of now, a ceasefire has reportedly been reached. However, Israel made clear that any further attack on the Druze Community will not be tolerated, even outside its borders and will invite a military response.

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