A letter written by Israeli Druze combat soldiers in support of Israel's military operations in Syria has circulated in recent days. The signatories of this petition appealed to Netanyahu, calling on him to utilize the Israeli army in Syria.
More than half of the roughly 1 million Druze worldwide live in Syria. Most of the other Druze live in Lebanon and Israel, including in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Six Day War and annexed in 1981.
During the Syrian civil war, 2011 to 2024, the main Druze center at Suwaida sought to remain neutral. The power brokers there neither were on the supporting side of the Syrian Arab Army of Assad, nor among the ranks of the armed opposition which finally ousted Assad and brought Sharaa to power.
Many analysts saw the Druze as having ambitions of independence, perhaps jealous of how far the Kurds had gone in semi-autonomous rule in the North East region. The Kurds were backed by America, but the Druze were on their own.
It is clear that whoever produced and circulated the audio recording did so to create chaos in an already chaotic and fragile Syria.
The Islamic extremists immediately took the bait and attacked the Druze. Despite the Druze cleric disavowing the audio, the violence escalated and innocent people were killed and injured.
The Sharaa administration quickly stepped in to try to calm the situation. The Netanyahu administration appears to be heroes of the Druze. However, it is the Israelis who are benefitting from the chaos. The IDF are justifying their occupation and increasing land-grab in Syria under the guise of protecting the Druze community.
Not every Druze in Syria holds the same views about the future of Syria and their community. Some activists had voiced the option of secession, while others have condemned the Israeli bombardment on Daraa, reaffirming the unity of the Syrian people and renewing their rejection of any foreign interference in the country.
Time will tell what happens in the Druze community and in the Sharaa administration. Israel will be sure to exploit the situation to their advantage to keep the chaos thriving while they encroach further.
Steven Sahiounie is a two-time award-winning journalist
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