Dim Amor

The chaos in Syria continues today as well (July 18), as confrontations between the Druze community and the new regime of Ahmad al-Sharaa (al-Jolani) continue to shake the region and provoke sharp reactions from Israel and Turkey. Security discussions between Israeli, American, and Turkish intelligence officials are taking place against the backdrop of the massacre of Druze civilians in southern Syria, while Israel is crystallizing a clear policy of protecting the Druze community.

Turkish President Erdogan's senior advisor and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin discussed today with his counterparts from the United States, Syria, and Israel the Israeli attacks in the country. The discussions were held with intelligence officials from the three countries in the shadow of the massacre of Druze civilians in southern Syria, with the Turkish Defense Ministry announcing that Turkey is ready to support Syria's defense efforts and fight against terrorism if requested to do so.

A Turkish security source revealed that Turkey played a crucial role in securing a ceasefire in Syria, with the Turkish source disclosing that Turkish intelligence officials held talks with Druze leaders aimed at helping to end the conflict in Syria. Meanwhile, the Druze leader in Suwayda, Hikmat al-Hijri, demanded today the opening of roads from Suwayda to areas controlled by regime forces and the opening of a border crossing with Jordan.

According to assessments in Israel, al-Hijri is located in the Suwayda area along with his son, with the security establishment understanding that any harm to him could significantly deteriorate the regional situation. Harm to the Druze leader could lead to activity by tens of thousands of Druze from Israel, Lebanon, and Syria against al-Jolani's rule in Syria, which could ignite the entire region.

During the night, Syrian army forces and the regime's internal security forces began thinning their presence in the al-Suwayda area, as part of ceasefire agreements reached between the leadership of the Druze community and al-Sharaa's regime. With the outbreak of fighting in the city, the Syrian army sent significant reinforcements to the area, which also included armored forces. The forces operated against local Druze militias, with field estimates indicating that about 1,000 soldiers participated in the fighting, arriving from several brigades and divisions.

Earlier today, Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, leader of the Druze community in Israel, was interviewed on Radio 103FM and referred to the ceasefire allegedly achieved between the Druze and the new regime in Syria. "We need to know who we're dealing with. These are human animals. Al-Jolani dressed up with a tie and jacket, but his actions are different", Tarif said.

"They talked about a ceasefire and continued with the massacre, with the cleansing, going from house to house. This was at night until midnight. He says something, and these foreigners, the jihadists do other things. They rape a five-year-old girl, enter a holy place where women hid so they wouldn't be harmed, and burn them alive. They kill, behead, real cleansing. This is because they are Druze and don't believe like them", added the leader of the Druze community in Israel.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu then published a video in which he summarized the IDF's activity in Syria and explained the motives. "I want to update you on what we did in Syria, and what we will do in Syria. We established a clear policy: demilitarization of the area south of Damascus, from the Golan to the Druze Mountain area, that's one line. The second line – protecting the brothers of our brothers, the Druze in the Druze Mountains", Netanyahu said.

The Prime Minister clarified that "both of these things were violated by the regime in Damascus. It sent an army south of Damascus, into the area that should be demilitarized, and it began massacring Druze. We could not accept this in any way. Therefore, I instructed the IDF to act – and act with force. The air force attacked both the murder gangs and the rocket launchers. I added a target to also attack the Defense Ministry in Damascus".

Netanyahu emphasized that "as a result of this intense activity, a ceasefire prevailed, and the Syrian forces withdrew back to Damascus. This is important. This is a ceasefire achieved through strength. Not through requests, not through pleas – through strength. We achieve peace through strength, quiet through strength, security through strength – on seven fronts".

The Prime Minister clarified that "this will also be the continuation of our policy – we will not allow military forces to go south of Damascus, we will not allow harm to the Druze in Jabal al-Druze". Netanyahu shared with the public a personal moment that moved him: "Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, leader of the Druze in Israel, approached me. He told me the following: 'During the Holocaust, when they massacred you, you Jews, called for help, and no one came. Today they are massacring us, the Druze, and we are calling for help from the State of Israel'".

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared that "Israel's attacks on Syria are unacceptable and constitute a threat to the entire region". In his remarks, he clarified that Turkey will continue to support the Syrian people, "as it has done so far", and welcomed the ceasefire achieved with the Druze community in Syria.

In a conversation Erdogan held with the Syrian president, al-Jolani thanked President Erdogan for Turkey's support in preserving "Syria's political unity, territorial integrity, and sovereignty". The tension between the Israeli and Turkish approaches is clearly evident, with Israel focusing on protecting the Druze and Turkey focusing on supporting the new regime in Syria.

The conflict also affects the Israeli-Syrian border, when during activities by Northern District police officers on the Syrian border, two northern residents who returned from Syria were caught with Kalashnikov-type weapons in their possession. After breaches in the border fence were closed and civilian crossings from both sides of the border were stopped, police officers are operating in coordination with IDF forces and community dignitaries to return Israeli citizens who entered Syrian territory and vice versa.

During the inspection of two Israeli citizens, residents of Kisra and Beit Jan aged 18 and 20 who returned to state territory, a Kalashnikov rifle and magazine were found among their personal belongings. The two were arrested, transferred for interrogation, and the police are expected to request an extension of their detention in court.

The Syrian crisis continues to shake the region, with Israel making it clear that it will continue decisive activity to protect the Druze, Turkey trying to balance between supporting the new regime and attempting to prevent escalation, and the Druze community at the center of the storm. Further developments are expected in the coming days, as all sides try to navigate a complex and changing arena.

Photos of the presidents of Turkey and Syria: AP Agency. Photo of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: From his official Facebook page, in accordance with the provisions of Section 27a of the Copyright Law.