Why Israel bombed Syria ministry of defence HQ | Suwayda violence against Druze minority explained

Israel has once again intensified its military action against Syria. This time, the targets were the Ministry of Defense and the Chief of Staff headquarters in Damascus.

The attacks on Syria began while the Israeli Prime Minister was attending a court trial for bribery charges. Netanyahu left the courtroom citing security reasons.

Netanyahu claimed the attacks in Syria were aimed at saving “Druze brothers” and eliminating the “regime’s gangs,” hinting at the Syrian forces that were sent to Sweida to contain the violence.

Communal violence between Druze and Bedouin armed groups began on June 13. The violence soon escalated, creating fears of further bloodshed and instability.

Notably, the Israeli military began striking Syrian security forces and their weapons on Monday, after they were deployed to the city of Sweida for the first time since HTS rebels overthrew President Bashar al-Assad in December, to restore order.

However, locals allege that government forces engaged in combat alongside tribal militias against the minority Druze community.

More than 360 people have been killed in the clashes. Among the casualties were 79 Druze fighters and 55 civilians. Twenty-seven Druze people were reportedly executed by members of the defense and interior ministries.

Additionally, 189 defense and interior ministry personnel and 18 Bedouin fighters were also killed.

The Israeli attack on Syria comes amid reports of normalization of ties between Tel Aviv and Damascus. The new Syrian self-proclaimed interim President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has been seeking normalization with Israel.

While some experts suggest that the attack on Syria may hinder normalization efforts in the long term, others argue that the strikes were aimed at helping Benjamin Netanyahu stay in power.

Israeli Prime Minister has justified his bombing campaign in Syria—during which 15 defense and interior ministry personnel were killed—citing the killings of Druze.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reiterated that the military would continue its operations in Damascus and Sweida “forcefully.” The military action is aimed at maintaining pressure on Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa. Al-Sharaa, for the first time, condemned the Israeli bombings in Syria and accused Israel of causing chaos and destruction.

Ahmad al-Sharaa, Syria's interim president said “The Israeli entity, which has consistently targeted our stability and sown discord since the fall of the former regime, now seeks once again to turn our sacred land into a theater of endless chaos—aiming to fragment our unity and weaken our ability to rebuild and rise.”

Al-Sharaa vowed to bring the perpetrators who committed violence against the Druze to justice. The Syrian President's statement came amid a ceasefire declared in the violence-hit territory.

The ceasefire entails an immediate halt to all military operations and a commitment by all parties to end hostilities.

The Syrian forces, who were deployed to bring normalcy to Sweida, were also pulled back. Under the truce deal, internal security checkpoints will be established across Sweida, manned by police officers and local security personnel from within the province.

Even though the Syrian government has announced the ceasefire, Druze leadership is split over the truce. Pertinently, the Druze community has several spiritual leaders, including al-Jarbou, Sheikh Ahmad al-Hijri, and Sheikh Hammoud al-Hinnawi. The community is fragmented across three countries: Syria, Lebanon, and Israel.

While al-Jarbou has declared support for the ceasefire, Sheikh al-Hijri has announced that continued defense and fighting is a national, humanitarian, and moral duty that cannot be compromised.

Sheikh al-Hijri has demanded the disarmament of armed groups claiming to work with the Syrian government. Notably, there are local Bedouin militia groups who claim to be working with the Syrian government.

Amid the divide within Syrian Druze leadership, Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt has accused Netanyahu of planning a civil war in Syria.

Walid Jumblatt reiterated that the Druze people will remain opposed to peace with Israel until an independent Palestinian state is established, and they will not fall for Netanyahu’s traps.

al-Sharaa, reierated "We were faced with two choices: Open war with Israel at the expense of our Druze community and Syria’s stability, or allowing Druze leaders and elders to return to reason and prioritize national interest over those who seek to tarnish the reputation of the honorable people of the mountain. We do not fear war—we have spent our lives confronting challenges and defending our people. But we chose the path of Syrian interest over chaos and destruction."

As the Syrian President seeks an end to the conflict and aims to bring peace to the region, experts suggest that achieving this objective will be an uphill task for Al-Sharaa—Given the only possible reason for Netanyahu to stay in power is a ‘constant state of war’.