Analysis: Who are the Druze and why does Israel protect them?

Syrian government officials and Druze community leaders announced they had reached a ceasefire after days of fighting that threatened to derail the country's political transition and prompted Israeli military intervention.

Government forces began withdrawing from the town of Suwayda, but it is uncertain whether the ceasefire will be respected. A previous ceasefire - announced on Tuesday - quickly collapsed, with a prominent Druze leader, Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri, rejecting the new agreement. Israeli attacks continued even after the ceasefire was announced.

The Druze are an Arabic-speaking ethno-religious minority living in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and the occupied Golan Heights. The Druze faith is a branch of Shia Islam - with its own unique identity and rituals. About half of the followers of this faith - totaling about one million members - live in Syria, where they make up about 3% of the population.

In Israel, the community is largely considered loyal to the state, due to its members' participation in military service. According to the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics, about 152,000 Druze live in Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

Historically, the Druze have had a precarious position in Syria's political order. During the nearly 14-year civil war, they operated with their own militias in the south of the country. Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December, the Druze have resisted state attempts to establish authority in southern Syria.

Druze factions in Syria have a mixed attitude towards the new authorities - some are wary, others outright reject them. However, many of them oppose the presence of official security forces in Suwayda and refuse to join the Syrian army, relying on their local forces for protection.

Although the Syrian government condemned recent attacks on the Druze community and promised to restore order in southern Syria, its forces were also accused of attacks on the minority. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights documented “summary executions” of Druze by government forces.

Such reports increased the distrust of some members of the Druze community towards the authorities in Damascus.

After the sudden fall of Assad, Israel began reaching out to the Druze community near its northern border, in an attempt to create alliances with minorities in Syria.

Israel is trying to portray itself as a protector of these minorities - including Kurds, Druze and Alawites - while continuing to strike government forces and military targets inside Syria.

During sectarian clashes in May, Israel carried out strikes near the presidential palace in Damascus, saying they were a warning against attacks on the Druze community. However, some Druze figures in Syria and Lebanon accused Israel of fomenting sectarian divisions to advance its expansionist goals in the region.

Why is Israel attacking Syria now?

Israel is attacking Syria to prevent Syrian forces from exercising military control in the south of the country, near the border with Israel. It wants the area to remain demilitarised to avoid threats, especially from Islamist fighters near the border.

On July 15, Israel struck security forces in the city of Suwayda, while on July 16 the attacks expanded, hitting the army headquarters and the Ministry of Defense in Damascus.

Syria condemned these attacks.

They were the heaviest since late 2024, when Israel struck Syrian military bases and seized control of a border area. Israel wants to weaken the Syrian army to avoid being exposed, and has warned that the attacks will continue.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, after the first airstrike on Damascus, wrote on X that “the painful blows have begun.” He said the Israeli military “will continue to attack regime forces until they withdraw from the area and will soon increase the level of responses to the regime if the message is not understood.”

What were the reactions in the world?

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US is "very concerned" about the violence.

"We have agreed on specific steps that will put an end to this disturbing and horrific situation," he said on July 16, without giving further details.

Several Arab states, including Lebanon, Iraq, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt and Kuwait, condemned Israel's attacks on Syria. Iran described the attacks as "highly predictable."

Turkey said they were “an act of sabotage against Syria’s efforts to ensure peace and stability.” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned Israel’s attacks on Suwayda and Damascus./REL