Syria Condemns Israeli Strike Near Damascus Amid Sectarian Violence and Druze Appeals for Protection

Syria has strongly condemned foreign intervention following an Israeli military strike near Damascus on Wednesday that killed at least one Syrian security officer and wounded several others. The incident coincided with rising sectarian violence involving Syria’s Druze minority, prompting both domestic outrage and international concern.

According to the Israeli military, the strike targeted an extremist group allegedly responsible for attacks on the Druze community. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz described the operation in the town of Sahnaya, southwest of Damascus, as a "warning action" against unidentified militants believed to be preparing further assaults on Druze civilians.

Syria’s foreign ministry swiftly responded, reaffirming its commitment to protecting all citizens, including the Druze, and denouncing any foreign intervention as a threat to national sovereignty. "Any call for foreign intervention – under any pretext or slogan – only leads to further deterioration and division," the ministry said in a statement. It also warned that such interference serves external agendas rather than the Syrian people’s interests.

The strike came amid a surge in violence in Sahnaya, where unidentified groups attacked a government checkpoint late Tuesday, injuring three officers. Simultaneously, attacks on both civilian and military vehicles erupted in nearby areas. At least 11 people have been confirmed dead, with dozens more injured in recent clashes, according to Syrian state media.

Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, a prominent Druze spiritual leader, has publicly called for immediate international peacekeeping intervention to protect his community, labeling the violence a "campaign of extermination" carried out by government-affiliated extremist factions. Syria’s foreign ministry rejected his plea, reiterating its stance against foreign involvement.

Calls for restraint have also come from Syria’s Grand Mufti, Sheikh Osama al-Rifai, who urged all parties to avoid retaliation and allow justice to take its course. “Everyone must… stay away from calls for revenge and retaliation,” he stated via the official news agency SANA.

Reports suggest the violence in Sahnaya involves clashes between pro-government forces and Druze militia groups. While Israel has long positioned itself as a protector of the Druze in Syria, this stance has caused divisions within the community. Some Druze have welcomed Israeli support, fearing a jihadist-led regime, while others have condemned it.

Israel’s joint statement on Wednesday, which coincided with Memorial Day for fallen soldiers, highlighted the Druze’s role in Israeli society and reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to their protection. “We stress our commitment to protect their brethren in Syria,” the statement said. Israeli officials confirmed that three injured Syrian Druze were evacuated into Israel for medical treatment.

The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, also weighed in, expressing alarm over the violence in Damascus suburbs and condemning the Israeli strike. “These attacks must stop,” he said, calling for full respect for Syrian sovereignty.

With the situation in Sahnaya still volatile, residents reported ongoing skirmishes involving mortar fire and automatic weapons. Efforts at mediation and de-escalation are continuing, but the path forward remains uncertain as both regional tensions and internal divisions deepen.

Photo: Reuters