Posted on 07/15/2025 12:12:44 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
Israel carried out strikes against Syrian government forces in southwestern Syria for a second day on Tuesday, vowing to keep the area demilitarized and to protect the Druze minority as deadly clashes continued in the region at the Israeli frontier.
A Reuters reporter said they heard drones and at least four strikes over the predominantly Druze city of Sweida, and saw a damaged tank being towed away. Bursts of gunfire were heard and three bodies were seen on the ground. Dozens of people have been killed in fighting in the region since Sunday.
The surge in violence underlines the challenges facing interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has struggled to assert control over the area near the Israeli border since toppling Bashar al-Assad in December.
While Sharaa has been buoyed by rapidly improving ties with U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, the violence has highlighted lingering sectarian tensions and distrust among minority groups towards his Islamist-led government - distrust that was deepened by mass killings of Alawites in March.
Syria's foreign ministry said it held Israel fully responsible for the attack and its consequences, vowing to protect all citizens, including the Druze. Syria's presidency said the country would take legal action against "anyone proven to have committed violations or abuses, regardless of their rank or position".
U.S. Syria envoy Tom Barrack said the United States was in contact with all sides "to navigate towards calm and integration".
Israel, which has struck Syria several times in the name of protecting the Druze, carried out its latest strikes after influential Druze Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri issued a statement accusing government troops of breaching a ceasefire and urging fighters to confront what he described as a barbaric attack.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
When I visited Israel years ago, my favorite restaurant was owned by a Druze family.
These people will never stop.
They will not, the Israel peoples govt has an insatiable blood lust. From the River to the Sea, Semites say it belongs to the Royal “Me”.
They will not.
We are now official anti-Semites. To criticize Israel or the Semites who support or are of Israel, is to be Hitler, Nazi, and a Holocaust denier all it one.
If you think it is hard to stand up against the LGBTQ+ or BLM folks, it is impossible to point out the flaws of Israel and keep a reputation.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.