In an unusual event overnight on Monday, an individual was filmed raising an Israeli flag in the central square of Sweida, the capital of southern Syria's Druze Mountain region. Moments later, Syrians took down the flag and burned it, an act seen as a demonstration against Israeli backing of the local Druze population.
Video: Raising the flag in southern Syria | Arab social media
The incident came against the backdrop of rising tensions in the area. Late last week, Netanyahu and Katz instructed the IDF to prepare to defend the Druze town of Jaramana, located in the suburbs of Damascus, following an attack there by Syrian regime forces.
Video: Burning of the flag by Syrian civilians | Arab social media
In a joint statement, Netanyahu and Katz reaffirmed Israel's commitment to protecting the Druze population. "We will not allow the extremist Islamic terror regime in Syria to harm the Druze. If the regime harms the Druze, it will be harmed by us," the statement said.
