Syrian forces withdraw from Druze-majority Suwayda province after large scale Israeli bombings

United News of India

a day ago

Damascus/Jerusalem, July 17 (UNI) Syrian forces have retreated from the Druze-majority province of Suwayda, following large scale airstrikes by Israel where the IDF bombed several areas of military and strategic significance, including a military target close to the Presidential Palace, the Defence Ministry headquarters, and the headquarters of the state-media, as well as various military installations in the province.
The bombings have forced the Syrian army to withdraw from the flashpoint southern province, with Damascus stating that the Druze natives will be left to govern their own security, ending four days of deadly conflict between Druze fighters and state forces, reports Times of Israel.
Calling the withdrawal a voluntary act to prevent more destruction and avoid war, the country's interim government President Ahmed al-Sharaa said, 'We sought to avoid dragging the country into a new, broader war that could derail it from its path to recovery from the devastating war … We chose the interests of Syrians over chaos and destruction.'
In a national address, Sharaa condemned Israel for the attack, in particular its 'wide-scale targeting of civilian and government facilities', adding that the strikes were pushing 'matters to a large-scale escalation, except for the effective intervention of American, Arab and Turkish mediation, which saved the region from an unknown fate'.
He also accused Jerusalem of trying to sow division within the nation. 'The Israeli entity, known for its repeated attempts to destabilise us and sow division, once again seeks to turn our land into a battlefield of chaos and to dismantle the fabric of our people.'
Sharaa further vowed that those behind violence against the Druze minority, which led Israel to intervene, would be held responsible.
'We are keen on holding accountable those who transgressed and abused our Druze people, as they are under the protection and responsibility of the state,' Sharaa said.
The Syrian leader told the Druze community it was 'a fundamental part of the fabric of this nation… protecting your rights and freedom is one of our priorities.'
Israel for its part has maintained that it will take whatever action necessary to protect the Syrian Druze community, further calling the new regime a barely disguised jihadist, and has vowed to not let them move forces into southern Syria.