‘We will go ourselves’: Druze IDF soldiers threaten action amid Syria sectarian violence

5 comments

1. Druze communities across Israel are protesting after dozens of their relatives were killed in sectarian violence in Syria.

   Demonstrators accuse the Israeli government of failing to act and warn they may cross the border to protect their people.

   Tensions are rising, especially among Druze IDF reservists, as calls grow for immediate intervention.

   Israel has responded with warning strikes, while officials vow to defend the Druze if attacks continue.

   Several Druze were also moved from Syria into Israeli hospitals for medical care.

   More: [‘They massacred us’: Syria’s Druze plead for help as sectarian violence escalates
   ](https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hkio07zegl)

   >Syria’s Druze minority faces rising violence and political marginalization under President al-Sharaa’s regime, with over 70 dead in recent clashes and international calls mounting for urgent intervention to protect the embattled community

2. Fascinating dynamic as this seems organic. Israel has more justification at this point to invade Syria to “protect the Druze” than it did in the 1980s invading Lebanon to “protect the Christians”. 

   At the same time, tough calculation on part of the Syrian Druze themselves. Allying with Israel tends to be verboten in Arab society. 

3. Druze IDF soldiers have gone into any war Israel is part of. So post 7 October they have been in battles alongside Jewish soldiers. And IDF have the modern weapons needed to defend Druze towns in Syria so it’s understandable they are mad. Of course it’s a geopolitical issue you can’t just grab a rifle and run into Syria especially if you plan to battle Syrian regime forces that could start a war.

   Not a simple issue. Both sides have a point. I’m sure Israel is planning something. But before they take action hundreds of Druze will have been killed.

4. Israel bluntly shouldn’t care, it’s not its strategic issue to solve, now if the weapons start pointing to it there is a problem.

5. FWIW, Israeli-Druze social media says that:

   * Rumors of Druze “disrespecting the Prophet and his companions” suddenly started catching fire a few days ago.
   * The attackers had drones and other sophisticated weapons.
   * They used double encirclement with ambush sites and control of all approaches.
   * Foreign, central asian fighters were involved.
   * Defenders ran out of bullets.
   * Relatives (and strangers) were reaching out to Israeli Druze people as it was happening
   * Neighboring Bedouins, who had resisted jihadist infiltration/affiliation during the civil whole civil war turned on the Druze.
   * They think Turkey is responsible.
   * They are extremely scared.

   I don’t know what is or isn’t true… but that seems to be the understanding of events among this community at this time.

   Also fwiw… I believe there were small number of leftist israeli veterans that volunteered to fight in the Rojava Kurdish pseudo-state that existed during the civil war. So… there is precedence. I don’t think it’s impossible that Druze Israelis will try to get into that fight themselves, if things get bad and the IDF does nothing.

   Also near the border is one thing. Damascus… That could get messy.

Comments are closed.