Israel Strikes Outside Damascus as Sectarian Tensions Flare in Syria

Syria vehemently denounced external interference within its borders after an uncommon Israeli attack occurred close to Damascus on Wednesday, adding fuel to the ongoing lethal sectarian conflict.

Syria stated that the Israeli attack resulted in at least one security officer being killed and multiple individuals sustaining injuries.

On Wednesday earlier, the Israeli army stated they had conducted a strike near the edge of Damascus, claiming their target was an "extreme faction" responsible for attacking them. Druze community , a smaller religious community within the nation.

On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a joint statement saying that the operation carried out in the town of Sahnaya, located southwest of Damascus, was a "deterrent measure" aimed at an unspecified armed faction preparing to launch further attacks against the Druze community.

The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded, stating they have an "unchanging dedication" to safeguarding all Syrians, which includes the "esteemed Druze community."

Syria’s state-run news outlet SANA reported that the country’s government troops initiated a large-scale offensive in the region near Sahnaya with the aim of apprehending "illegal militias" following an assault by an unidentified armed faction on a Syrian government checkpoint late Tuesday, resulting in injuries to three officials.

Simultaneously, various factions unleashed gunfire on both civilian and security vehicles in adjacent regions. The recent surge in hostilities resulted in a minimum of 11 fatalities and scores of wounded individuals.

Syria's chief religious leader, Osama al-Rifai, has urged all citizens to remain peaceful and avoid intensifying the current circumstances.

"Everybody should... avoid incitements for vengeance and reprisals, and let justice proceed accordingly," Rifai stated concerning the "recent incidents" in Sahnaya, according to a declaration made on Wednesday and reported by SANA.

Two local reporters from Damascus informed The News Pulse, requesting confidentiality because of safety issues, that the confrontations in Sahnaya occurred between combatants supporting the Syrian government along with members of the Druze minority militia.

Given that the Bashar Al-Assad regime has fallen Israel has established itself as the guardian of Syria’s Druze, an Arabic-speaking ethno-religious group adhering to a sect within Islam mainly found in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel. Concerned about being under a government dominated by ex-jihadists, some Druze have accepted Israel’s advances; however, numerous others have openly rejected these efforts.

A considerable population of Druze resides within Israel’s borders. Internationally acknowledged boundaries include individuals with Israeli citizenship who serve in its armed forces. There is also a significant Syrian-Druze community residing in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights; however, most of them haven’t accepted Israeli citizenship and typically refrain from serving in the Israeli military. Inside Syria, numerous Druzes reside in the southern regions, areas that Israel designated as a buffer zone following Assad’s downfall.

"On this Memorial Day when we remember Israel's fallen soldiers, we acknowledge the significant role played by the Druze community in ensuring Israel's safety. We reaffirm our dedication to safeguarding their fellow Druze in Syria," the combined statement noted.

Israeli authorities likewise called upon the Syrian government to ensure the safety of the Druze population.

On Wednesday night, the Israeli army announced that three Syrian Druze individuals received medical care in Israel after being wounded in Syria.

The UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, voiced deep worry over "the intolerable violence occurring in Syria, particularly in the outskirts of Damascus," as well as expressing alarm about reported Israeli strikes, according to a statement released on Wednesday.

These assaults have to cease," Pedersen stated, calling for "utmost respect for Syria's sovereignty.

The situation on the ground remains volatile, with residents telling The News Pulsethat Sahnaya continues to witness sporadic clashes and intermittent attacks by unidentified local groups involving mortar fire and medium-caliber machine guns. Efforts by government officials and community mediators to de-escalate are ongoing, multiple residents in the area told The News Pulse.

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