ISRAEL CONTINUES TO DEFEND THE DRUZE

Israeli special forces reportedly strike deep in Syria as rabbis affirm solidarity with Druze

As reports surface of Israeli strikes near Damascus, Jerusalem signals red lines to Iran and Hezbollah — while religious leaders in Israel reaffirm the nation’s covenant with the Druze and its unwavering defense of life.

 

By Ryan Jones

 

Israel Today

Aug 28, 2025 

 

An aerial picture shows a view of a military site in the Syrian town of al-Kiswah, some 13km south of Damascus, that was targeted by Israeli fighter jets on August 27, 2025

 

Syrian media outlets claimed overnight that Israeli special forces carried out an unusual ground operation deep inside Syrian territory, in tandem with a wave of airstrikes near Damascus. While Israel has maintained official silence, Defense Minister Israel Katz offered a pointed hint on social media: “Our forces operate across all arenas of combat, day and night, for the security of Israel.”

According to reports from Syria, Israeli fighter jets and helicopters struck multiple targets late Wednesday night in the al-Kiswah area, just south of Damascus. At the same time, military sources told Reuters that an Israeli commando unit landed at a military outpost in Jabal Manaa — a site once used as a major hub by Iranian militias and Hezbollah. The sources said the force remained on the ground for about two hours, conducting searches before withdrawing without direct clashes with Syrian troops.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported around ten separate airstrikes against military sites, including near the Damascus International Fair, which had just opened with the participation of Syria’s new president, Ahmad al-Sharaa. The Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned the reported strikes as a “grave violation of international law and Syria’s territorial integrity” and accused Israel of destabilizing the region.

The operation comes only a day after a drone strike — also attributed to Israel — killed between six and eight Syrian soldiers from the army’s 44th Division in the same area, including at least one commander.

Quiet talks on security arrangements

The reports of the Israeli raid coincide with early-stage discussions between Israel and intermediaries connected to Syria’s new regime, exploring the possibility of a limited security arrangement along the northern frontier. While no formal progress has been announced, officials familiar with the talks say the dialogue reflects a recognition that the Assad era’s unchecked Iranian entrenchment in Syria cannot continue under the new leadership.

Jerusalem has consistently made clear that Israel will not tolerate Iranian or Hezbollah infrastructure along its northern border, even amid changes in Damascus. The latest strikes serve as a pointed reminder that Israel intends to enforce its red lines regardless of shifting political winds in Syria.

Interfaith gathering affirms covenant with Druze

Against this backdrop, an interfaith gathering was held Wednesday at the Druze spiritual center in Julis, hosted by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and the Interior Ministry. The event brought together Sephardic Chief Rabbi David Yosef, Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III, Latin Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Muslim imams, and other religious representatives.

Chief Rabbi Yosef emphasized the shared responsibility of all faiths to defend human life, declaring: “We have a blood covenant with the Druze community, and the state must do everything to defend the Druze wherever they are. Any religion worthy of the name is obligated to sanctify life. We must make it crystal clear: We choose life.”

Sheikh Tarif hailed the unprecedented gathering as a sign of unity and encouragement for the Druze community, especially in light of their suffering in Syria: “Your solidarity with us is a clear statement of light against darkness. Together we can send a message to the world: wake up to the atrocities in Syria and do not stand on the sidelines.”

Rabbi Eliezer Simcha Weiss, chairman of the interfaith committee, added that the Jewish-Druze bond is one of life and shared sacrifice: “All those who seek to destroy us shall not prevail. We survive in faith, in hope, and in the sanctity of human life.”

The joint statement by rabbis, imams, patriarchs, and sheikhs underscored that defending the Druze — in Israel and beyond — is not only a national duty but also a moral and spiritual imperative rooted in the sanctity of life.

A clear message

Israel’s latest reported actions in Syria, combined with the religious solidarity voiced in Julis, highlight the same point: Israel does not act capriciously, but with a consistent commitment to defending its people, securing its borders, and standing with vulnerable allied communities like the Druze.

While Damascus accuses Israel of destabilization, the real destabilizing forces — Iran’s militias, Hezbollah’s expansion, and Sunni radicals like the Bedouins in Sweida — are well known.