Israel Threatens Military Action Against Syria Over Druze Massacres

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned today (01/05/2025) that Israel will respond with military force if the Syrian government fails to protect the Druze community. “If the regime in Syria does not succeed in preventing these massacres, Israel will respond with significant force,” Katz stated in an official press release. Earlier today, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called on the international community “to protect minorities in Syria—especially the Druze—from the regime and its terrorist gangs.” The Israeli army announced yesterday that it evacuated three Druze civilians from Syria to provide them medical care in Israel. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed that the Israeli military carried out a warning strike against ‘extremists’ who were preparing to attack members of the Druze minority in the Syrian city of Sahnaqia. Additionally, Chief of General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Eyal Zamir, ordered the army to be ready to strike governmental targets in Syria should new violence occur against the Druze community there.