Israel wants to protect minority – blamed for escalation
Over 100 people have been killed in recent days’ violence in two suburbs outside the Syrian capital Damascus and in the province of Suwayda. According to the Syrian Human Rights Observatory, SOHR, the fighting has been between Druser and armed groups linked to Syria’s security forces and others by the country’s authorities.
Both in the metropolitan suburbs and in Suwayda, a majority of the population is Druser, an Arab people and religious minority in Syria, Israel and Lebanon. The Druses broke away from the Shiite Ismailites around the 11th century and their religion, which have elements of both Islam, Christianity and Judaism.
The London -based The SOHR information center states that over 20 Drusian militants were killed and ten civilians were killed in the fighting near Damascus. 30 people who are said to be loyal to the Syrian rule must also have been killed.
According to SOHR, some 40 Drusian militants must also have been killed by « government loyal » in an ambush between Suwayda and Damascus.
Druser accommodation in Suwayda also tells the Reuters news agency that they had their homes looted by government lobby who have been in the area in recent days.
Tammy Bruce, spokesperson for the US Foreign Ministry said that « the violence and the hateful rhetoric directed at the Druses in Syria are reprehensible and unacceptable »
On Friday morning The Israeli military announced that the country has carried out air against goals near the Damascus presidential palace. This is after the Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz demanded that Syrian rule take measures to protect the Druses. It is unknown if people died or injured in the Israeli attacks.
In a joint statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel Katz say that the attacks are « a clear message » to the Syrian regime.
« We will not allow (Syrian) forces grouping south of Damascus or poses any threat to the drusical society, » says the Israeli leaders.
Israel also states that the country has placed troops in several parts of southern Syria to prevent « enemy forces » from returning to Drusian villages, Reuters reports.
Syria’s Islamic government calls Israel’s attacks a « dangerous escalation ». On Thursday, representatives from Ahmed Al-Sharaa’s rule held a meeting with Leaders for Drusian communities in Suwayda in an attempt to ease the tensions.
The violence that has been going on Since Monday, it is reported to originate in the reactions to an audio file on social media. In the audio recording, which according to several international media is difficult to verify, a drusical leader is said to criticize Prophet Muhammad.
The fall of the hardened Assad regime in December last year was delighted with many Syrians, but the entrance of the Islamic rebel group has also caused concern for the country’s many minority groups – despite the promises of the new government that these should be respected.
During the spring, over 1,300 people were killed in the Mediterranean regions of Tartus and Latakia, of which at least 830 civilians from the Alawitic minority, according to SOHR.
