Syria Unravels: Druze Deal Falters as Israeli Strikes Intensify Amid Sectarian Flare-Up

A fragile deal between the Syrian government and the Druze community is teetering as Israeli airstrikes intensify across Syria, further inflaming sectarian tensions. Recent clashes near Damascus have resulted in multiple casualties, prompting the deployment of Syrian security forces to restore order. The situation is compounded by ongoing Israeli military actions, which Damascus views as a severe escalation. Syria has strongly condemned the Israeli strikes, particularly those near the presidential palace, following a week of heightened sectarian violence targeting the Druze population. Israel, however, accuses the Syrian government of failing to adequately protect its Druze citizens. A Syrian Druze leader has openly criticized the government’s handling of the sectarian strife. Meanwhile, in eastern Syria, an attack by the ISIL group resulted in the deaths of five Kurdish fighters, adding another layer of complexity to the already volatile region. Syria, independent since 1946, has a history marked by political instability and conflict. The loss of the Golan Heights to Israel in 1967 and the devastating civil war that erupted from anti-government protests in 2011 have left the nation deeply scarred. While the fall of the Assad Government in December 2024 saw over a million Syrians returning home, recent events indicate a resurgence of old tensions and new threats, jeopardizing the country’s path toward stability.