Israel strikes military tanks in southern Syria, where government forces clash with Druze militias

AP ^ | 7/13/2025 | OMAR SANADIKI and ABBY SEWELL

[Signalman]

BUSRA AL-HARIR, Syria (AP) — Israel’s army said Monday it has struck military tanks in southern Syria, where government forces and Bedouin tribes clashed with Druze militias.

Dozens of people have been killed in the fighting between local militias and clans in Syria ’s Sweida province. Government security forces that were sent to restore order Monday also clashed with local armed groups.

Syria's Interior Ministry has said more than 30 people have died and nearly 100 others have been injured. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a U.K.-based war monitor, reported at least 89 dead, including two children, two women and 14 members of the security forces.

The clashes in Syria initially broke out between armed groups from the Druze and Sunni Bedouin clans, the observatory said, with some members of the government security forces “actively participating” in support of the Bedouins.

Interior Ministry spokesperson Noureddine al-Baba said government forces entered Sweida in the early morning to restore order.

"Some clashes occurred with outlawed armed groups, but our forces are doing their best to prevent any civilian casualties,” he told the state-run Al-Ikhbariya TV.

The observatory said the clashes started after a series of kidnappings between both groups, which began when members of a Bedouin tribe in the area set up a checkpoint where they attacked and robbed a young Druze man.

Israeli Involvement: Israel struck military tanks in southern Syria and has previously intervened in defense of the Druze minority, who are seen as a loyal minority in Israel. Israel seeks to prevent the deployment of Syrian forces south of Damascus and any threat to the Druze community.

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TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: abbysewell; alikhbariyatv; ap; associatedpress; bedouin; druze; hezbollah; islamofascism; islamofascists; israel; koranimals; lebanon; nomads; noureddinealbaba; omarsanadiki; sohr; sweida; syria; waronterror

[Signalman]

Israel involvement connected with defense of Druze minority.

[avital2]

Druze and Kurds need to be protected.

[Red Badger]

Military tanks and NOT civilian tanks....................🙄

[jjotto]

Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz: “The IDF attacked targets in Syria as a clear message and warning to the Syrian regime - we will not allow the Druze to be harmed in Syria. Israel will not stand idly by.”