Indian Council of World Affairs

Abstract: The recent violence in Sweida in southern Syria against the religious ethnic community of the Druze, Israel’s response and the lull of peace that was due to the temporary ceasefire that brought a cessation of violence are focus of the paper. 

The recent attacks on Syria's defence ministry in Damascus and government forces in the country's south by the Israeli Defence Forces made global headlines, while deadly sectarian clashes occurring in the predominantly Druze province of Sweida in Syria remain overlooked. More than 350 people have been killed during this ongoing conflict in Sweida. 

The religious ethnic Druze[i], which had been residing in the territories of Syria, Lebanon and Israel (primarily in the regions of Galilee, Carmel and Golan Heights) for ages, remain to be an integral part of the Israeli community.Originating as a branch of Shia Islam in the 11th century, the Druze have formed a distinct and unique religious identity, believing in re-incarnation, that incorporates aspects of Greek philosophy and Gnosticism.[ii] They are regarded as an ethno-religious minority with a closed and exclusive religious tradition.During a recent visit to Israel, a senior member of the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) had informed the author that the Druze are a respected and peaceful community, showing allegiance to the territory that they reside in. In Israel, along with the Jews, they are part of the compulsory military service and remain an important part of the IDF and itsreserve forces.[iii]

In Israel, the population is predominantly Jewish, comprising about 73.6% of the population. The remaining population consists of Muslims (18.1%), Christians (1.9%), and Druze (1.6%, which is appx. 140,000 people). The remaining 4.8% includes those who are either religiously unclassified or belong to other faiths like Samaritanism and Baha'i.[iv]

After the dismissal of the Assad government, the country has been broken amidst several factional groups. Some support the present rule of Abu Mohammad al-Julani in Damascus, while others remain affiliated to groups who were associated with the past regime of Assad. In 2018, members of the Islamic State group attacked the Druze in Sweida province, killing more than 200 people and taking more than two dozen hostage, which has remained to be a reason of fear for the Druze community living in Syria.[v]

The present hostilities started when Bedouins, mostly Sunni Muslims, allegedly got involved with robbing and kidnapping local Druze members, which triggered a flare up. Local Syrian forces seemed to have supported the Bedouins, which led to the death of more than 300 Druze civilians.[vi]

Sweida, located in southern Syria, close to the Israel Syrian borders, has been enjoying some sort of autonomy by the Druze community. The government under Julanimight have seen this conflict as an opportunity to amalgamate this autonomous region, and in the guise of countering the ongoing violence tried to assert its dominance on the territory by suppressing the Druze community.[vii]

Sheikh Muafak Tarif, the spiritual leader of the Druze community in Israel sent out a

message to the Israeli government to prevent the violence against the Druze community in Sweida. Due to the closeness of the borders as well as the Druze communities living on both side of the borders, which could have triggered overlapping violence, Israel responded to the request, carrying out a short military response by targeting the Syrian military headquarters as well as the Syrian government forces in Sweida, which immediately led to a temporary ceasefire. The Syrian administration with the Israeli military response chose to avoid further flagrance of violence in the region. With the Israeli military response, there was an immediate cessation of violence in the region, the Syrian forces retreating from the territory.[viii]

Syria’s fledgling and transitional government is gradually coming on its own and, while a temporary ceasefire was reached, steps like the recent strikes by Israel challenge the federal set-up in Damascus and its ability to address domestic issues. Israel’s attempt to message and perhaps teach to Jolani’s set-up in a language that the latter understands in response to a call by Druze spiritual leader based in Israel is perhaps to serve related domestic constituencies but it does not augur well for the region’s stability.

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*Dr. Dhrubajyoti Bhattacharjee, Sr. Research Fellow, Indian Council of World Affairs, New Delhi.
Disclaimer: The views expressed are personal.

Endnotes

[i] The Druze community, Despite numbering only around one million people worldwide, the Druze have maintained a substantial and influential status. In Israel, approximately 152 thousand Druze reside. Despite sharing linguistic and cultural ties with other Arab communities, the Druze have maintained a distinct identity. Eve Afifa Kheir, The Druze Community in Israel: A Model of Minority Integration, Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, May 2025, https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Eve-Kheir/publication/391483130_The_Druze_Community_in_Israel_A_Model_of_Minority_Integration/links/6819f44160241d5140232c1d/The-Druze-Community-in-Israel-A-Model-of-Minority-Integration.pdf?origin=publication_detail&_tp=eyJjb250ZXh0Ijp7ImZpcnN0UGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uIiwicGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uRG93bmxvYWQiLCJwcmV2aW91c1BhZ2UiOiJwdWJsaWNhdGlvbiJ9fQ&__cf_chl_tk=OVQqUQRKgmbdzh4jLsKWSENCEAZRx70y_P4TH_KGTIs-1753423817-1.0.1.1-AqLjUFCLPNcJMqYmqu5hMce969sOo62Ue3Km0y1melU accessed on July 25, 2025

[ii] Gnosticism, (having knowledge) is a collection of religious ideas and systems that coalesced in the late 1st century AD among early Christian sects. These diverse groups emphasised personal spiritual knowledge (gnosis) above the proto-orthodox teachings, traditions, and authority of religious institutions.

[iii]In conversation with David Baruch, senior member of the IDF reserved force during delegation visit to Israel from 6-11 July 2025

[iv] "Table 2.1 — Population, by Religion and Population. As of May 2011, estimate the population was 76.0 Jewish. Group". Statistical Abstract of Israel 2006 (No. 57). Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. 2006. Archived from the original (PDF), https://www.gov.il/en/departments/central_bureau_of_statistics/govil-landing-page

[v]Who are the Druze in Syria, and why are they clashing with government forces?, Associated Press, July 16, 2025, https://apnews.com/article/syria-druze-clashes-explainer-sweida-bedouin-b591788d6573d48cc6aebc2edef4d649 accessed on August 04, 2025

[vi]Who are the Druze in Syria, and why are they clashing with government forces?, Associated Press, July 16, 2025, https://apnews.com/article/syria-druze-clashes-explainer-sweida-bedouin-b591788d6573d48cc6aebc2edef4d649 accessed on August 04, 2025

[vii]John Spencer, “The Forgotten Slaughter of Syria’s Druze—and Israel’s Moral Response”, Official X Handle of John Spencer @SpencerGuard, July 20, 2025, https://x.com/SpencerGuard/status/1946771713728954669?t=fF1t3IRCzN99MReKMOTf7A&s=08 accessed on July 25, 2025

[viii]John Spencer, “The Forgotten Slaughter of Syria’s Druze—and Israel’s Moral Response”, Official X Handle of John Spencer @SpencerGuard, July 20, 2025, https://x.com/SpencerGuard/status/1946771713728954669?t=fF1t3IRCzN99MReKMOTf7A&s=08 accessed on July 25, 2025