ALBAWABA- The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched airstrikes on targets in southern Syria on Sunday, including several tanks near the village of Sami’a in the Suwayda region.
The Israeli Defense Minister described the attack as a clear warning to the Syrian regime, vowing that Israel "will not stand idly by" if the Druze community in Syria is threatened.
According to an Israeli military spokesperson, the strikes targeted tanks observed earlier moving between Sijin and Sami’a toward Suwayda.
The IDF claimed the armored movements posed a potential security threat to Israel. The spokesperson emphasized that the military would act decisively against any emerging threat in southern Syria and will continue monitoring the situation closely.
The airstrikes came as tensions escalated in Suwayda, where recent violent clashes between Druze residents and Bedouin groups have left over 90 people dead and dozens more wounded.
The Syrian government has since deployed army units and security forces in the area to restore order, protect civilians, and safeguard property.
A Syrian Interior Ministry statement said their forces entered Suwayda as part of a national mission to stop the bloodshed and stabilize the region, clarifying that their role is solely to maintain order and protect civilians, without taking sides.
Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reported sightings of Israeli warplanes flying over Suwayda Governorate, further signaling Israel’s military involvement in the area.
Critics argue that Israel’s assertion of protecting the Druze community serves as a pretext to justify intervention in Syria’s internal affairs through sectarian divide-to-rule leverage.
