As sectarian violence erupts in southern Syria, Israel launches airstrikes on Damascus targeting Syrian government forces, while the U.S. announces agreed “specific steps” to end the bloodshed. With over 350 people killed in Suweida, the crisis is spiraling into a major regional flashpoint.
More than 350 killed in Suweida as Israeli airstrikes hit Syrian defence sites and the U.S. announces steps to end spiraling violence
The United States says “specific steps” have been agreed to halt deadly violence in southern Syria, following days of brutal Israeli airstrikes on Damascus and widespread sectarian clashes in the province of Suweida.
For a third straight day, Israel’s military struck Syrian government forces and critical targets in Damascus — including the Defence Ministry and areas near the presidential palace — in a campaign Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says aims to protect the Druze minority. His government claims to be acting in response to atrocities against the Druze community in Suweida, which has seen over 350 deaths since Sunday in clashes between Druze militias and Bedouin tribal forces.
Israel’s actions have intensified an already complex conflict. According to Syrian officials, dozens of civilians were killed in the strikes, including in heavily populated zones of the capital. The Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned the attacks as violations of international law, accusing Israel of intentionally inflaming tensions and destabilizing the region.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Washington had agreed on “specific steps” to bring an end to what he called a “troubling and horrifying” crisis. These steps appear to have prompted a partial withdrawal of Syrian troops from Suweida, as reported by SANA, Syria’s state-run news agency. The Syrian government has also acknowledged and welcomed U.S. and Arab efforts to resolve the crisis peacefully.
The flare-up began last Friday when the abduction of a Druze merchant triggered a violent chain of events. Armed Druze fighters retaliated by seizing a Bedouin neighborhood in Suweida city, prompting government forces to intervene. However, Syrian troops were soon accused of looting, torching homes, and extrajudicial killings — fueling Druze resentment.
Witnesses and activists report scenes of chaos, with hospitals under attack, snipers targeting civilians, and critical shortages of water and medical supplies. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), 79 Druze fighters, 55 civilians (27 allegedly executed by government forces), 189 government troops, and 18 Bedouin fighters have been killed in the clashes so far.
In a show of solidarity, hundreds of Israeli Druze attempted to cross the Golan Heights border into Syria, prompting Israeli forces to deploy tear gas. Netanyahu has urged Israeli Druze to allow the military to intervene instead, reaffirming his commitment to their protection.
The Israeli military, meanwhile, has expanded its bombing campaign across southern Syria, targeting armored vehicles, weapons depots, and alleged rebel strongholds. Defence Minister Israel Katz declared that the “painful blows have begun,” emphasizing Israel’s intent to destroy the forces threatening the Druze.
As regional powers race to contain the escalating violence, concerns mount over sectarian warfare, military overreach, and a deteriorating humanitarian situation that threatens to spiral beyond Syria’s borders.