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| Who are the Druze and why is Israel attacking Syria? | Who are the Druze and why is Israel attacking Syria? |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| A fresh wave of deadly sectarian violence is rocking southern Syria, highlighting the country's fragility as the new government attempts to impose its authority. | A fresh wave of deadly sectarian violence is rocking southern Syria, highlighting the country's fragility as the new government attempts to impose its authority. |
| The fighting in the province of Suweida is between Druze and Bedouin militias - two groups with long-running disputes - as well as government forces. | The fighting in the province of Suweida is between Druze and Bedouin militias - two groups with long-running disputes - as well as government forces. |
| The latest violence started on Sunday 13 July with the reported abduction of a Druze merchant. A few days later, Israel launched air strikes on Damascus, Suweida and Deraa, saying its forces were seeking to protect the Druze against government-affiliated forces. | The latest violence started on Sunday 13 July with the reported abduction of a Druze merchant. A few days later, Israel launched air strikes on Damascus, Suweida and Deraa, saying its forces were seeking to protect the Druze against government-affiliated forces. |
| One week on, more than 1,100 people are reported to have been killed in Suweida, according to the UK-based war monitor, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). | One week on, more than 1,100 people are reported to have been killed in Suweida, according to the UK-based war monitor, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). |
| All sides - Druze, Bedouin and government forces - have been accused of atrocities. | All sides - Druze, Bedouin and government forces - have been accused of atrocities. |
| The violence, along with the Israeli strikes, has re-ignited fears of a security breakdown, as Syria grapples with the fallout from a 13-year civil war, and the recent Islamist-led rebel takeover of Damascus. | The violence, along with the Israeli strikes, has re-ignited fears of a security breakdown, as Syria grapples with the fallout from a 13-year civil war, and the recent Islamist-led rebel takeover of Damascus. |
| Syria's current leader, the former militant Ahmed al-Sharaa, has vowed to protect minorities, but that has been met by scepticism by critics, including Israel. | Syria's current leader, the former militant Ahmed al-Sharaa, has vowed to protect minorities, but that has been met by scepticism by critics, including Israel. |
| Several bouts of sectarian violence, including the killing of hundreds of members of the Alawite minority in March, have fuelled concerns over the status of minorities in Syria after the fall of the Assad regime. | Several bouts of sectarian violence, including the killing of hundreds of members of the Alawite minority in March, have fuelled concerns over the status of minorities in Syria after the fall of the Assad regime. |
| Who are the Druze? | Who are the Druze? |
| The Druze are an Arabic-speaking ethno-religious minority in Syria, Lebanon, Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The Druze faith is an offshoot of Shia Islam with its own unique identity and beliefs. | The Druze are an Arabic-speaking ethno-religious minority in Syria, Lebanon, Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The Druze faith is an offshoot of Shia Islam with its own unique identity and beliefs. |
| Half of its roughly one million followers live in Syria, where they make up about 3% of the population. Druze in Israel are largely considered to be loyal to the state, owing to their participation in military service. There are some 152,000 Druze living in Israel and the occupied Golan Heights, according to the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics. | Half of its roughly one million followers live in Syria, where they make up about 3% of the population. Druze in Israel are largely considered to be loyal to the state, owing to their participation in military service. There are some 152,000 Druze living in Israel and the occupied Golan Heights, according to the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics. |
| They have historically held a precarious position in Syria's political order. Under Assad's rule, the Druze in southern Syria enjoyed limited autonomy, while maintaining ties with Damascus - a system under threat under the new government. | They have historically held a precarious position in Syria's political order. Under Assad's rule, the Druze in southern Syria enjoyed limited autonomy, while maintaining ties with Damascus - a system under threat under the new government. |
| Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December, the Druze have resisted government attempts to impose authority over southern Syria. While Druze factions in Syria are divided in their approach to the new authorities, ranging from caution to outright rejection, many object to a state security presence in Suweida and have resisted integration into the Syrian army - relying instead on local militias. | Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December, the Druze have resisted government attempts to impose authority over southern Syria. While Druze factions in Syria are divided in their approach to the new authorities, ranging from caution to outright rejection, many object to a state security presence in Suweida and have resisted integration into the Syrian army - relying instead on local militias. |
| The Syrian government has condemned the attacks on Druze people and promised to restore order. However, its forces are also accused of attacking the minority; the SOHR has documented "summary executions" by government forces. | The Syrian government has condemned the attacks on Druze people and promised to restore order. However, its forces are also accused of attacking the minority; the SOHR has documented "summary executions" by government forces. |
| Historically, Israel has courted ethnic and religious minorities in the Middle East in a bid to forge strategic alliances in the face of its regional rivals. Since Assad's fall, it has increasingly positioned itself as a regional protector of minorities, including the Kurds, Druze and Alawites in Syria, while attacking military sites across the country and government forces. | |
| However, some Druze in Syria and Lebanon have accused Israel of stoking sectarian divisions to advance its own expansionist aspirations. | However, some Druze in Syria and Lebanon have accused Israel of stoking sectarian divisions to advance its own expansionist aspirations. |
| Why is Israel attacking Syria now? | Why is Israel attacking Syria now? |
| Israel has struck Syria multiple times, with the intention of preventing the new authorities from building military capacities that could threaten Israeli security. | Israel has struck Syria multiple times, with the intention of preventing the new authorities from building military capacities that could threaten Israeli security. |
| The most recent attacks have primarily acted as a warning against the Syrian army deploying to the south, with Israel seeking to create a demilitarised zone in the area. | The most recent attacks have primarily acted as a warning against the Syrian army deploying to the south, with Israel seeking to create a demilitarised zone in the area. |
| In particular, Israel fears the presence of Islamist fighters near its northern border, along the occupied Golan Heights. | In particular, Israel fears the presence of Islamist fighters near its northern border, along the occupied Golan Heights. |
| While the air strikes on 15 July were limited to targeting security forces and vehicles in Suweida, the scope was widened the next day, when Israel hit the Ministry of Defence and the Syrian army headquarters in Damascus. | While the air strikes on 15 July were limited to targeting security forces and vehicles in Suweida, the scope was widened the next day, when Israel hit the Ministry of Defence and the Syrian army headquarters in Damascus. |
| "The warnings in Damascus have ended - now painful blows will come," Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz wrote on social media shortly after the strikes began. | "The warnings in Damascus have ended - now painful blows will come," Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz wrote on social media shortly after the strikes began. |
| The blast at the military headquarters was broadcast live by Syria's leading TV channel, which has its studios nearby. Footage showed the news presenter fleeing the studio mid-programme. | The blast at the military headquarters was broadcast live by Syria's leading TV channel, which has its studios nearby. Footage showed the news presenter fleeing the studio mid-programme. |
| The attacks represented the most serious Israeli escalation in Syria since December 2024, when it obliterated hundreds of military sites and seized a UN-patrolled buffer zone in the Syrian Golan Heights, which the UN said was a violation of a 1974 agreement that there would be no military presence in the area. | The attacks represented the most serious Israeli escalation in Syria since December 2024, when it obliterated hundreds of military sites and seized a UN-patrolled buffer zone in the Syrian Golan Heights, which the UN said was a violation of a 1974 agreement that there would be no military presence in the area. |
| Watch: How a day of bombing unfolded in Damascus | Watch: How a day of bombing unfolded in Damascus |
| How has the rest of the world reacted? | How has the rest of the world reacted? |
| US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the US was "very concerned" about the violence and announced on 16 July: "We have agreed on specific steps that will bring this troubling and horrifying situation to an end tonight." | US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the US was "very concerned" about the violence and announced on 16 July: "We have agreed on specific steps that will bring this troubling and horrifying situation to an end tonight." |
| Arab states, including Lebanon, Iraq, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, and Kuwait, have condemned the Israeli strikes. Saudi Arabia denounced what it described as "Israel's blatant attacks", while Iran said they were "all too predictable". | Arab states, including Lebanon, Iraq, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, and Kuwait, have condemned the Israeli strikes. Saudi Arabia denounced what it described as "Israel's blatant attacks", while Iran said they were "all too predictable". |
| Turkey, a key stakeholder in post-Assad Syria, described the strikes as "an act of sabotage" against Syria's government. | Turkey, a key stakeholder in post-Assad Syria, described the strikes as "an act of sabotage" against Syria's government. |
| UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned Israel's "escalatory" strikes. | UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned Israel's "escalatory" strikes. |
| What could happen next? | What could happen next? |
| The clashes have underlined the fragility of Syria's post-war security and politics, and the most recent violence has fuelled fears of renewed sectarian attacks. | The clashes have underlined the fragility of Syria's post-war security and politics, and the most recent violence has fuelled fears of renewed sectarian attacks. |
| It remains to be seen whether Ahmed al-Sharaa, the interim president will be able to reconcile Syria's deep sectarian divisions, stoked by years of civil war. | It remains to be seen whether Ahmed al-Sharaa, the interim president will be able to reconcile Syria's deep sectarian divisions, stoked by years of civil war. |
| The sectarian clashes, along with the Israeli strikes, threaten to derail attempts at state-building and post-war recovery. | The sectarian clashes, along with the Israeli strikes, threaten to derail attempts at state-building and post-war recovery. |
| Israel is likely to continue to perceive the new authorities, and its affiliated Islamist fighters in the south, as a significant security threat - pushing it to pursue alliances with groups that may feel increasingly isolated and alienated by Damascus. | Israel is likely to continue to perceive the new authorities, and its affiliated Islamist fighters in the south, as a significant security threat - pushing it to pursue alliances with groups that may feel increasingly isolated and alienated by Damascus. |