Lebanese Druze Leader Wiam Wahhab in Fiery Interview: Israeli Strikes in Syria to Defend the Druze Are Justified; Sunnis Curse Us, Call Us Heretics, Want to Slaughter Us and Our Children
He stated that all the Arabs are making peace with Israel, while he is criticized for supporting Israel's attack on Syria. Shouting, he accused Sunnis of cursing the Druze, branding them heretics, and threatening to slaughter them and their children. Raising his voice further, he lashed out at Sunnis with derogatory names, saying they should go to Palestine and that he would follow right behind them, adding that they were 'pushovers' who are 'all under Netanyahu's boot.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rudaw Net
an hour ago
- Rudaw Net
US passes Syria sanctions bill, ties relief to reforms
Also in World Rubio tells Sudani important to pay KRG salaries 'consistently' Brawl breaks out between pro-Damascus, Kurdish rallies in Germany's Dusseldorf US encourages Iraq to end tensions with Kurdistan Region US orders return of Baghdad embassy, Erbil consulate staff A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The United States House of Representatives on Tuesday passed the Syria Sanctions Accountability Act, aiming to maintain pressure on Damascus while allowing flexibility to support Syria's transitional government. 'The goal is to give them the chance to succeed while ensuring accountability for any malign activities,' said US Congressman Mike Lawler, a member of the committee behind the bill. According to the US Congress website, the legislation proposes maintaining and expanding targeted sanctions on individuals and entities linked to the former regime, human rights violations, narcotics production, and activities threatening Syria's stability or hindering transitional justice. It also calls on US financial agencies to review banking restrictions and push for enhanced economic monitoring at international institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank. The bill ties the lifting of remaining sanctions to measurable progress in several areas, including ending attacks on civilians, ensuring humanitarian access, releasing political prisoners, and halting the targeting of religious minorities. 'My bill provides the administration with the flexibility to ensure that our posture is in line with the current environment and provides Congress with the information we need to act,' Lawler added. In May, US President Donald Trump, during a trip to the Middle East, announced his decision to effectively lift most broad, economy-wide sanctions on Syria. He also met with Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa during a summit in Riyadh hosted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Since taking office in January, following the toppling of longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad, Syria's new leadership has prioritized lifting international sanctions. Several countries, including members of the European Union, which officially lifted its sanctions in May, have expressed openness to removing Assad-era restrictions but have emphasized the need for inclusive governance and strong counterterrorism efforts. In a recent interview with Reuters, US envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack said he had urged Sharaa to embrace a more inclusive political approach in the wake of recent sectarian violence, warning that failing to do so could undermine international support and risk further fragmentation of the country. A fresh wave of violence between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribes has rocked the southern Druze-majority Suwayda province since July 13, leading to a regional crisis as Israel intervened in support of the Druze, striking several targets, including Syrian state forces and an airstrike on the defense ministry building in Damascus. Sharaa's forces have been accused of siding with the Sunni tribes. 'We're, of course, aware of those reports and we're aware that some who might be affiliated but not directed by the Syrian Government may be a part of that [violence],' US Department of State Spokesperson Tammy Bruce told Rudaw's Diyar Kurda during a press conference on Tuesday. At least 1,265 people have been killed in the violence in Suwayda, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. A Washington-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Syria was announced on Saturday by Barrack, with the truce seemingly holding. The Druze are in control of the province, while Syrian government forces are guarding the entrance to prevent Sunni fighters' entry in a bid to avoid further tensions. In June, the Observatory reported that 7,670 people, mostly civilians, were killed in the first half of the year due to ongoing violence and widespread 'security chaos.' A fact-finding committee probing sectarian violence in Syria's coastal Alawite-majority areas in March said on Tuesday that it identified nearly 300 suspects in connection with the events, which left more than 1,700 people dead, mostly from the Alawite community. Investigations by the committee documented 'serious violations against civilians,' including 'murder, premeditated murder, looting, destruction and burning of homes, torture, and sectarian insults,' committee spokesperson Yasser al-Farhan said during a Damascus presser. In March, violence erupted in Syria's Alawite-majority coastal areas after armed groups, many loyal to ousted president Bashar al-Assad, launched attacks on forces allied with the government, prompting Damascus to respond with force.
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Israeli troops raid house in Southern Lebanon
Shafaq News - Marjayoun An Israeli force crossed into the al-Mari plain in southern Lebanon, raiding a house sheltering several Syrian workers, Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported on Wednesday. Troops were searching for a Syrian national who was not at the location, briefly detaining two other workers before releasing them. The incursion marks another breach of the US-brokered ceasefire implemented on November 27, 2024. Since then, Lebanese authorities have documented over 4,000 Israeli violations, with at least 232 people killed and more than 530 injured. Israel continues to occupy five military outposts in southern Lebanon, despite ceasefire terms requiring a full withdrawal. The latest escalation comes as US Special Envoy Tom Barrack visited Beirut to discuss a proposal aimed at ending hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. The plan includes the disarmament of Hezbollah, a halt to Israeli airstrikes, Israel's withdrawal from occupied southern positions, and a linked economic aid package for Lebanon.
Rudaw Net
5 hours ago
- Rudaw Net
Brawl breaks out between pro-Damascus, Kurdish rallies in Germany's Dusseldorf
Also in World Rubio tells Sudani important to pay KRG salaries 'consistently' US encourages Iraq to end tensions with Kurdistan Region US orders return of Baghdad embassy, Erbil consulate staff US says attacks on Kurdistan Region 'unacceptable' A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Five police officers were injured Sunday in a brawl between pro-Syrian and pro-Kurdish demonstrators outside the central station in Germany's western city of Dusseldorf, according to local police. 'A brawl involving several hundred participants triggered a large-scale police operation yesterday afternoon. Former participants of two different assemblies (pro-Syrian and pro-Kurdish) had clashed on the forecourt of the main train station,' Dusseldorf police said in a statement on Monday. During efforts to contain the violence, bottles and stones were thrown at officers, leaving five lightly injured. Police said they made several arrests and filed around 20 criminal charges for offenses including breach of the peace, dangerous bodily harm, and property damage. Participants from both demonstrations had crossed paths at Konrad-Adenauer-Platz in the city center Sunday afternoon. After an exchange of insults, violence broke out, the statement added. Police are aware of at least one injured civilian. According to the regional daily Rheinische Post, roughly 500 people had joined the pro-Kurdish demonstration, while about 200 took part in the pro-Syrian interim government rally. The Kurdish march was attacked by at least 50 people. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, and police told the newspaper it is not yet confirmed whether the attackers were directly linked to the earlier Syrian demonstration, though 'a connection is possible.' According to Rudaw's reporter on the ground, the Kurdish rally was organized by Kurds from northeast Syria (Rojava) and southeast Turkey, though most participants were from Rojava. The demonstrators expressed solidarity with Syria's minorities, including Alawites, Christians, and the Druze, and called for an end to hate speech targeting Kurds in Syria and the US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the de facto army in Rojava. Investigations are ongoing. The new authorities in Syria - who toppled Bashar al-Assad in December - have come under repeated criticism by minorities for neglecting their rights and steering the country towards Islamic rule. Recent sectarian clashes in the southern Druze-majority Suwayda province have left over 1,000 dead and displaced over 128,000. The fighting started last Sunday between Druze militants and the Sunni Muslim fighters. Damascus has been accused of siding with the Sunni tribes. Three ceasefires between the Druze community and the new government in Damascus have collapsed, and although the latest one - brokered by Washington - appears to be holding, it remains fragile.
