A prominent Druze cleric in Syria said Wednesday that the community in is prepared to receive Israeli assistance in light of recent attacks on Druze towns south of Damascus.
"If the assault on us continues, we would welcome Israeli protection," Sheikh al-Rishi told Sky News Arabia. "We do not accept anyone who attacks us. There are those who want to provoke conflict. We are Syrians and want to be treated like other Syrians. The Syrian leadership must be inclusive of all," he said.
According to military sources, the IDF is monitoring developments in Syria and has deployed forces ready for various scenarios.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has ordered preparations for strikes against regime targets in Syria should the violence against Druze civilians persist. On Wednesday alone, the IDF struck three targets on the outskirts of Damascus using unmanned aerial vehicles. The army said the targets were militants who had attacked Druze civilians.
A senior defense official stressed, "We will not allow harm to our Druze brethren. Israel has additional tools in its toolbox to prevent attacks against them."
Meanwhile, Syrian state media reported that an Israeli warplane flew over the Druze town of Sahnaya, south of Damascus. Earlier, the IDF launched a warning strike against a militant group preparing to attack Druze civilians in Sahnaya. At the same time, a stern message was delivered to the Syrian regime stating that "Israel expects it to act to prevent harm to Druze communities."
In contrast, Syrian Druze Al Jazeera anchor Faisal al-Qassem reported that Israel has proposed that all factions in Syria should reach agreements with the regime in Damascus rather than relying on Israeli support. Al-Qassem, known for his close ties to the new leadership and support for it, claimed that Israel ostensibly favors "a united Syria," as it is easier to engage with a single authority. He added that the US has conveyed a message to Israel not to intervene in Syria, and to coordinate with Turkey instead.
Meanwhile, a senior officer in the Syrian regime's military announced that a ceasefire and exchange of bodies had been agreed upon in the town of Jaramana. The officer said regime forces were beginning to deploy in two Druze towns and reported that 16 regime troops had been killed since the previous night.
