Israel Launches Airstrikes Amid Escalating Sectarian Violence in Syria
October 3, 2023, Jerusalem — Israel intervened in Syria’s escalating sectarian violence on Wednesday, launching airstrikes near Damascus amid clashes involving the Druse minority and pro-government forces. The Israeli military stated that its aircraft targeted a group it accused of attacking Druse civilians, labeling them as part of an "extremist group," though their identities remain undisclosed.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 37 individuals, including 28 on Wednesday alone, have died in violent confrontations around Damascus. The unrest began in Jaramana, a predominantly Druse city, after an audio clip circulated online, allegedly featuring a Druse cleric insulting the Prophet Muhammad. The cleric and Syrian authorities denied these claims, yet violence erupted, leading to conflict between Druse militia fighters and government-affiliated forces in Ashrafieh Sahnaya.
The Syrian state news agency reported attacks on government checkpoints by armed men, identified by some as Druse fighters. In response, the Interior Ministry denounced the attackers as "criminals" and vowed retaliation against the groups involved.
Israel’s airstrikes are positioned as warnings against threats to the Druse community, which remains significant in Israel. The Israeli government has expressed willingness to provide protection for Druse in Syria, although many within the community have rejected such offers.
With Syria now under Sunni Islamist leadership following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad, sectarian tensions have heightened, raising concerns among the country’s diverse minority groups. Reports of violence targeting Alawites last month underscored the precarious situation for these communities within the current political landscape.
Israel has previously conducted numerous military operations in Syria, asserting its aim to prevent hostile groups from gaining strength near its borders. As armed groups jockey for power in the shifting dynamics of post-Assad Syria, fears of further sectarian violence loom large.
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