Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Muhammad al-Julani, spoke out late Wednesday about the recent violent clashes in the southern Druze stronghold of Sweida and accused Israel of exploiting the unrest to foster instability.
He blamed Israel for deliberately creating chaos under the guise of protecting the Druze minority. "The Israeli entity seeks to turn our land into a battlefield of disorder," al-Sharaa declared following the announcement of a ceasefire and the withdrawal of his forces from the area. "The Syrian people are always ready to defend their dignity. We are natives of this land and we can overcome Israel's maneuvers. We are eager to prosecute those who harmed our Druze people."
Speaking shortly after the ceasefire took effect, al-Sharaa addressed Syria's Druze community directly: "The Druze community is an inseparable part of the fabric of this nation. Syria will never become a place of division, fragmentation or incitement. We assure you that defending your rights and freedoms is our top priority."
The Syrian president continued his accusations against Israel: "Since the regime's fall, Israel has aimed to dismantle Syria. We have entrusted local factions and sheikhs with the responsibility of maintaining security in the province. We chose not to be drawn into further conflict in order to safeguard the nation's security."
His remarks came in the wake of intense clashes in southern Syria, where reports emerged of severe massacres targeting the Druze population. The violence prompted a wave of Israeli airstrikes in the region and a significant movement of Druze from the Israeli Golan Heights into Syrian territory.
Al-Julani's forces began withdrawing from Sweida, the heartland of Syria's Druze community, late Wednesday as part of a ceasefire agreement coordinated with senior Druze leaders in the area.
The IDF reported that no additional Druze crossed into Syria overnight. There were no protests or further incursions from either side. Israeli troops operated within Syrian territory to return dozens of Israeli citizens who had crossed the border. In coordination with the Israel Police, the IDF also worked to locate and repatriate Druze-Syrians who had entered Israel. These operations are ongoing. In the coming day, the IDF plans to strengthen barrier measures along the border fence to prevent additional crossings from both directions.
In Washington, US Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued a statement expressing deep concern over the escalating violence in Syria. "I am deeply troubled by the rising violence in Syria, including Israel's decision to carry out airstrikes in Damascus and Sweida. This escalation risks undermining Syria's stability and could jeopardize progress made by Special Envoy Tom Barak on normalizing relations between Syria and Israel," she said.
"At the same time, Syrian authorities must commit to restoring order peacefully in Druze areas and ensure accountability for any security forces that committed abuses in those communities."
Shaheen added, "The only viable path forward requires all parties - Druze, Bedouin tribes, Israeli forces, and the Syrian government - to act swiftly to de-escalate tensions. Syrian authorities need international support to build capacity, train and professionalize their forces, and work toward our shared goal of eliminating the threat from terrorist organizations and other malign actors in Syria. To achieve that, we must all support a path toward a unified Syria that protects the interests of all its citizens and can pursue peaceful relations with its neighbors."
