Escalating violence in Syria’s Sweida province has sparked rare cross-border unrest among the Druze community in Israel. In a dramatic show of solidarity, dozens of Israeli Druze crossed the border fence into Syria on Wednesday, protesting what they described as ethnic cleansing by the Syrian regime. The Israeli army responded by reinforcing the northern frontier and conducting airstrikes on regime positions. Community leaders have warned that failure to act decisively will damage ties with the Druze and inflame broader regional tensions.

Sweida Clashes Ignite Cross-Border Solidarity

Fighting in southern Syria erupted after a Druze man was attacked by Bedouin militias, triggering a wave of violence that claimed over 250 lives. In retaliation, Druze gunmen abducted Bedouin fighters, escalating tensions between local communities and Syrian security forces. The Israeli military responded by launching strikes on regime targets, including rocket launchers, armed trucks, and strategic access points.

Simultaneously, hundreds of Israeli Druze mobilized near the border. While Israeli forces blocked Syrian Druze from entering Israel, several Israeli citizens managed to cross into Syria, raising alarms over security breaches. Sky News Arabia reported that some Israeli troops chose not to intervene, prompting an internal army investigation.

Druze Leaders Demand Government Action

Sheikh Muwaffaq Tarif, the spiritual head of the Israeli Druze community, called for a mass rally and appealed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz to act. “This is a battle for the Druze community’s very survival,” he said, demanding military and diplomatic pressure on Damascus.

Defense Minister Katz warned that Israel would intensify its strikes if the regime continued to target Druze populations. Meanwhile, Druze mayors in northern Israel described the events in Syria as “ethnic cleansing” and accused Israel of offering only symbolic gestures.

While many Israeli Druze demand intervention, Druze religious authorities in Syria, including Sheikhs Hammoud al-Hinnawi and Youssef Jarbou, issued a joint statement opposing foreign interference and asserting loyalty to Syrian sovereignty. Civil groups in Sweida echoed this stance, warning that external involvement could destabilize the region further.