PM says strikes in line with demilitarization policy, pledge to protect Druze; Damascus says truce reached with factions controlling Sweida, where sectarian violence has killed scores

Washington and Jerusalem have kept a watchful eye on Damascus ever since the overthrow of the Bashar al-Assad regime by Sunni Muslim rebels in December. Of greatest concern has been the level of solidarity the new Syrian government maintains with ISIS — the terrorist organization that Syrian interim president

Druse militiamen have been fighting with Bedouins in the Sweida Province, and Syrian government forces and the Israeli military are getting involved.

Druze spiritual leaders in Sweida in southern Syria called on armed Druze factions to cooperate with government forces and surrender their weapons to the Syrian government. The IDF reportedly struck the area of Sweida on Tuesday morning,

Regime claims 'treacherous Israeli aggression' killed several soldiers and civilians; Israeli Druze stage protests, cross Syrian border; Chikli calls for 'eliminating' Sharaa

The US did not participate in the strikes,' defense official tells Anadolu, referring inquiries to Israeli military - Anadolu Ajansı

Israeli civilians had managed to infiltrate Syrian territory from the area of the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the North.According to the military, it was "acting to safely return the civilians who crossed the border.

Protests calling for international intervention break out in north shortly before IDF strikes Syrian forces in bid to protect Druze across border The post Israeli Druze block roads, rally for Syrian community as regime advances on Sweida appeared first on The Times of Israel.