Israel’s Gantz Confirms Strategic Interest in Druze Areas of Syria Amid Escalating Airstrikes
As Tel Aviv targets Syria with near-daily strikes, opposition leader Benny Gantz declares a "moral and security" alliance with Syria’s Druze, drawing condemnation for exploiting minorities to justify intervention.
Watan-Israeli opposition leader and former defense minister Benny Gantz reaffirmed Tel Aviv’s ambitions in Druze-majority areas of Syria, stating that Israel has a “supreme security interest” in maintaining influence over those regions.
His comments follow a wave of provocative statements from Israeli officials targeting Syria’s new leadership, under the pretext of defending minorities. These remarks come as Israel continues near-daily airstrikes on Syrian territory, causing casualties among civilians from all sectarian and ethnic backgrounds.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Gantz claimed:“Israel has both a moral obligation and a security interest in assisting the Druze in Syria.”
He added:“This is primarily a moral alliance between those who live and fight alongside us in Israel, and their brothers in Syria who are now at risk.”
Gantz went on to say:“We have a critical strategic interest in maintaining Druze-held areas in Syria and preventing extremist groups from gaining ground there.”
His comments came hours after the Israeli Air Force bombed a site near Syria’s presidential palace in Damascus, which Tel Aviv said was a warning to Syria’s new administration.
A joint statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz declared:
“This was a clear message to the new Syrian regime: We will not allow any forces near southern Damascus, nor any threat to the Druze.”
The airstrike followed a public statement from Druze leaders in Syria, issued Thursday evening, affirming their loyalty to a unified Syria and rejecting any form of division or foreign interference. The Syrian government, in turn, reached agreements with Druze community leaders in Jaramana to enhance local security and disarm militias.
This undermined Israel’s narrative of “defending Druze rights,” which Damascus sees as a pretext for violating Syrian sovereignty and promoting separatism.
Background of the Clashes
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the towns of Ashrafieh Sahnaia and Jaramana witnessed heavy clashes between government forces and armed Druze factions, following the circulation of an audio clip allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), attributed to a Druze individual.
The fighting resulted in the deaths of 16 security officers and several civilians, with local sources confirming that calm was restored through cooperation with Druze community elders.
On Wednesday evening, Syrian authorities announced the end of the military operation in Sahnaia and a preliminary ceasefire agreement in Jaramana, with the formation of a joint committee to address the root causes of unrest.
Despite claiming to protect Druze civilians, Israel carried out further airstrikes in the Ashrafieh Sahnaia region, reportedly killing several Druze residents, according to SANA, Syria’s state news agency.
Israel’s Ongoing Strategy
These developments come amid warnings that Israel is manipulating the Druze issue to justify deeper intervention in Syria—especially as Tel Aviv seeks influence in southern Syria, following the collapse of the Assad regime and the rise of President Ahmad al-Sharaa.
Since 1967, Israel has occupied most of the Golan Heights. In recent months, it has expanded control into the buffer zone and declared the 1974 disengagement agreement null.
Even though Syria’s new government has made no threats against Israel, Tel Aviv has continued near-daily bombing raids, destroying Syrian military sites, equipment, and killing numerous civilians.
