How Syria’s Druze heartland erupted into one of the bloodiest conflicts since the civ

By evening, shelling was reported in the area, causing casualties and material damage. Syrian media reported at least 37 dead and around 100 injured in the clashes, including 27 Druze—among them two children—and ten Bedouins.

Druze spiritual leaders called for calm. Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, one of the community's most influential clerics, called for “immediate international protection” for the Druze and firmly opposed the entry of the regime’s new forces into Druze-held areas.

On Monday, following nearly two days of fierce clashes, local reports said the death toll had risen to 89. Among the dead were 50 Druze—including two women and two children—18 Bedouins, 14 members of the regime’s security forces and seven unidentified individuals.

That morning, the new Syrian regime under Ahmad al-Sharaa began sending reinforcements to the area in an effort to quell the fighting. In a statement, Syria’s Defense Ministry announced that military units had been dispatched to the conflict zone and that a "safe corridor" was being opened for civilians to escape danger. The ministry said it aimed to end the violence swiftly.

Subsequently, Netanyahu and Katz issued a joint statement saying they had “instructed the IDF to immediately strike regime forces and weapons deployed in the Sweida region of the Druze Mountain in Syria—actions taken by the regime against the Druze, in violation of the demilitarization policy we established, which prohibits the entry of forces and weapons into southern Syria that could endanger Israel.”

The statement added: “Israel is committed to preventing harm to the Druze in Syria due to our deep brotherhood with the Druze citizens of Israel, and their historical and familial ties to the Druze of Syria. We are acting to prevent the Syrian regime from targeting them and to ensure the continued demilitarization of the area adjacent to our border with Syria.”

On Wednesday, after failed ceasefire efforts, the Israeli Air Force struck the main gate of the Syrian regime's military headquarters near Damascus. The strike followed Israeli warnings that stronger responses would follow if regime forces did not withdraw from Sweida. According to Syrian sources, the strike targeted a Defense Ministry building in Damascus using a drone, wounding two people.

Later, the IDF confirmed that it had carried out over 160 strikes—mostly against targets in Sweida and Damascus—including direct hits on Syrian soldiers and a strike in the heart of the capital. “There are horrific scenes, brutal violence, murder. We've been monitoring the al-Julani regime for a long time—these are former ISIS operatives who haven’t changed their nature,” IDF officials said.

Targets included tanks, rocket launchers, armed pickups and supply routes used by regime forces in southern Syria.

Amid escalating violence in Syria, Druze leaders in Israel declared an immediate general strike and days of protest. “Members of the Druze community are ascending en masse to the Golan Heights,” they said Tuesday.

In an official statement signed by Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, the spiritual leader of Israel’s Druze community, he lamented: “Regrettably, the IDF and the Israeli government, despite explicit commitments, have taken no concrete action to stop the bloodshed. This marks a deep and painful rupture in the historic and moral alliance between the State of Israel and the Druze community.” The statement further called on Druze to prepare “by any means necessary to cross the border, in order to aid their slaughtered brethren in Syria.”

The IDF reinforced troops along the border in anticipation of more attempted crossings by Israeli Druze. By midday, Druze protesters had begun attempting to breach the fence. Tear gas and warning shots were used, and demonstrators also tried to break through the main gate.

In Syria, reports said the death toll from the clashes had reached 350. Local media also reported two separate Israeli strikes targeting strategic buildings in central Damascus, near the main Umayyad Square, an area associated with the regime’s military command headquarters. Later, additional reports said Israel struck the rear section of the People’s Palace, the official residence of President al-Sharaa in Damascus.

By early morning, Syrian reports confirmed that regime forces had pulled out of the city. The IDF Northern Command observed initial signs of the ceasefire taking hold in the Druze stronghold, but remains on high alert in case hostilities resume. That readiness will continue into the weekend, with reinforcement units deployed on the Israeli side of the border.

While the IDF had been unprepared for the arrival of thousands of protesters at the Syrian border earlier this week, it is now preparing to install engineering barriers along the frontier in the coming hours. These include anti-vehicle “dragon’s teeth” and large concrete slabs between Majdal Shams and Hader.

He continued to blame Israel for escalating the situation, saying, “Since the regime’s fall, Israel has aimed to dismantle Syria. We have decided to entrust local factions and sheikhs with maintaining security in the province. We chose not to be dragged into confrontations to preserve the country’s stability.”