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Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
The Druze are a religious sect. Here's a look at their beliefs and history
The Druze religious sect, enmeshed in an outbreak of tit-for-tat violence in Syria, began roughly 1,000 years ago as an offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shiite Islam. Most Druze religious practices are shrouded in secrecy, with outsiders not allowed to convert and intermarriage strongly discouraged. More than half 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 Mideast War and annexed in 1981. Here's a look at the Druze sect: The principles Druze live by A core social doctrine for Druze is defending their brothers, meaning defending one another, said Makram Rabah, assistant professor of history at the American University of Beirut. 'If a Druze person anywhere in the world needed the help of another Druze person, he would automatically get it,' said Rabah. 'You're part of a bigger community.' He stressed how social and cultural rituals keep the community together. 'They're a big tribe,' he said. Intermarriage is not encouraged. Rabah said mainstream Druze would shun people who marry outside the sect. 'You are under the risk of being isolated socially and community wise,' he said. How Druze have interacted with the Syrian government Syria's Druze have a long history of cutting their own path to survive among the country's powerhouses. They were heavily involved in revolts against Ottoman and French colonial rule to establish the modern Syrian state. The Druze largely celebrated the downfall in December of Syrian autocrat Bashar Assad but were divided over interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa's rule. The latest violence has left the community more skeptical of Syria's new leadership and doubtful of peaceful coexistence. In Israel, members of the Druze community had called for intervention to protect the Druze in Syria. But elsewhere in the region, Druze leaders have rejected Israeli intervention. Druze have armed militias Multiple Druze armed militias have existed for years, originally set up to protect their communities against Islamic State group fighters and drug smugglers coming in from the eastern desert. Assad reluctantly gave Druze a degree of autonomy, as they wanted to avoid being involved on the front lines. The Druze were exempted from conscription into the Syrian army and instead set up local armed factions made of workers and farmers to patrol their areas. Since Assad's ouster, the Druze have been reluctant to lay down their arms. The result is a cycle of mistrust, where government supporters paint Druze factions as potential separatists or tools of Israel, while government hostility only deepens Druze worries. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. Solve the daily Crossword
Associated Press
a day ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
The Druze are a religious sect. Here's a look at their beliefs and history
The Druze religious sect, enmeshed in an outbreak of tit-for-tat violence in Syria, began roughly 1,000 years ago as an offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shiite Islam. Most Druze religious practices are shrouded in secrecy, with outsiders not allowed to convert and intermarriage strongly discouraged. More than half 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 Mideast War and annexed in 1981. Here's a look at the Druze sect: The principles Druze live by A core social doctrine for Druze is defending their brothers, meaning defending one another, said Makram Rabah, assistant professor of history at the American University of Beirut. 'If a Druze person anywhere in the world needed the help of another Druze person, he would automatically get it,' said Rabah. 'You're part of a bigger community.' He stressed how social and cultural rituals keep the community together. 'They're a big tribe,' he said. Intermarriage is not encouraged. Rabah said mainstream Druze would shun people who marry outside the sect. 'You are under the risk of being isolated socially and community wise,' he said. How Druze have interacted with the Syrian government Syria's Druze have a long history of cutting their own path to survive among the country's powerhouses. They were heavily involved in revolts against Ottoman and French colonial rule to establish the modern Syrian state. The Druze largely celebrated the downfall in December of Syrian autocrat Bashar Assad but were divided over interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa's rule. The latest violence has left the community more skeptical of Syria's new leadership and doubtful of peaceful coexistence. In Israel, members of the Druze community had called for intervention to protect the Druze in Syria. But elsewhere in the region, Druze leaders have rejected Israeli intervention. Druze have armed militias Multiple Druze armed militias have existed for years, originally set up to protect their communities against Islamic State group fighters and drug smugglers coming in from the eastern desert. Assad reluctantly gave Druze a degree of autonomy, as they wanted to avoid being involved on the front lines. The Druze were exempted from conscription into the Syrian army and instead set up local armed factions made of workers and farmers to patrol their areas. Since Assad's ouster, the Druze have been reluctant to lay down their arms. The result is a cycle of mistrust, where government supporters paint Druze factions as potential separatists or tools of Israel, while government hostility only deepens Druze worries. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
NBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- NBC News
Syrian government forces set to reenter Sweida province after renewed sectarian clashes
The Druze form a substantial community in Israel, where they are seen as a loyal minority and often serve in the Israeli military. After the ceasefire and withdrawal of government forces, clashes once again flared between the Druze and Bedouin groups in parts of Sweida province. State media reported Druze militias carried out revenge attacks against Bedouin communities, leading to a wave of displacement. The governor of neighboring Daraa province said in a statement that more than 1,000 families had been displaced to the area from Sweida as a result of 'attacks on Bedouin tribes by outlaw groups.' Meanwhile, Bedouin groups arrived Friday from other areas of Syria to join the fight. On the outskirts of Sweida, groups of them gathered in front of buildings that had been set ablaze. An armed man who gave his name only as Abu Mariam ('father of Mariam') said he had come from the eastern province of Deir ez-Zor to 'support the oppressed.' 'We will not return to our homes until we crush Al-Hijri and his ilk,' he said, referring to a prominent Druze leader opposed to the government in Damascus, Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri. 'We have nothing to do with civilians and innocent people as long as they stay in their homes.' The Druze religious sect began as a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shiite Islam. 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 Mideast War and annexed in 1981. While predominantly Druze, Sweida is also home to Bedouin tribes who are Sunni Muslim and have periodically clashed with the Druze over the years. The latest escalation began with members of a Bedouin tribe in Sweida setting up a checkpoint and attacking and robbing a Druze man, which triggered tit-for-tat attacks and kidnappings. Ahmed Aba Zeid, a Syrian researcher who has studied armed groups in southern Syria, said there is 'no specific reason' for the historic tensions between the groups. 'All of Syria is full of social problems that have no reason,' he said. In this case, however, 'The state exploited the latest problem to try to change the situation in Sweida, and this only increased the scope of it,' he said.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
The Druze and Syria's new govt
The Druze religious sect is a minority group that began as a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shia Islam. More than half the roughly 1 million Druze worldwide live in Syria. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Most of the other Druze live in Lebanon and Israel, including in the Golan Heights. In Syria, they largely live in southern Sweida province and some suburbs of Damascus. The transitional govt has promised to include minorities, including the Druze, but the new 23-member govt in Syria announced in late March only has one Druze member, minister of agriculture Amjad Badr. Reports of attacks on Druze civilians by govt-affiliated forces since the latest round of fighting broke out have further alienated many Druze from the new authorities. Following calls in Israel to help Druze in Syria, scores of Israeli Druze broke through the border fence on Wednesday, linking up with Druze on the Syrian side, a Reuters witness said. Israeli PM Netanyahu said the Israeli military was working to save the Druze and urged Israeli Druze citizens not to cross the border.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Israel strikes Syria's military headquarters as the regime clashes with Druze civilians
Israel announced on Wednesday that its forces struck near the entrance of the Syrian Defense Ministry's headquarters in Damascus. "The IDF continues to monitor developments and the regime's actions against Druze civilians in southern Syria. In accordance with directives from the political echelon, the IDF is striking in the area and remains prepared for various scenarios," the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) wrote on X. An Israeli military official said on Wednesday that while the Syrian regime has claimed it is acting to restore order, what is happening on the ground tells a "very different story." The official added that the more the regime intervenes "the worse it gets." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also put out a statement saying that his country's forces were "acting to save our Druze brothers and eliminate the regime's gangs" and warning Druze in Israel not to go into Syria. "I have one request of you: You are citizens of Israel. Do not cross the border," Netanyahu said on Wednesday. "You are endangering your lives; you could be killed, you could be kidnapped, and you are harming the IDF's efforts. Therefore, I ask you, return to your homes, let the IDF do its work." Why Syria Plays A Key Role In Trump's Plans For Middle East Peace Read On The Fox News App The southern Syrian city of Sweida has become a flashpoint in recent days as the country's leaders clash with armed Druze groups. Syria's Defense Ministry claimed its forces acted after militias in Sweida violated a ceasefire agreement reached on Tuesday. Syria's Defense Ministry reportedly said in a statement that its forces were continuing to fire in Sweida "while adhering to rules of engagement," including preventing harm, according to the Associated Press. Israel has threatened to increase its involvement in Syria and vowed to protect the Druze religious minority, which began as a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shiite Islam, the Associated Press reported. Most of the world's Druze population lives in Syria, with the rest predominantly in Israel and Lebanon. "And I raise the question: What else needs to happen for the international community to make its voice heard? What else needs to happen? What are we still waiting for?," Israel's Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa'ar said on Wednesday. "Our interests in Syria are known, limited and clear. First of all, to maintain the status quo in the southern Syrian region, which is also close to our border. And to prevent the development of threats against Israel in this area. The second thing - to prevent harm to the Druze community, with which we have a bold and strong relationship - with the Druze citizens here in Israel." Trump's Push For Israel-syria Peace Gets Major Backing As Activist Brings Message To Jerusalem The Druze are a prominent minority in Israel, where members of the community hold key military positions. In 2015, Col. Ghassan Alian, who is Druze, became the first non-Jewish commander of the Golani Brigade. Additionally, unlike other minorities in Israel, Druze males are not exempt from conscripted military service. "Israel is committed to preventing harm to the Druze in Syria due to the deep brotherhood alliance with our Druze citizens in Israel, and their familial and historical connection to the Druze in Syria – and we are acting to prevent the Syrian regime from harming them, and to ensure the demilitarization of the area adjacent to our border with Syria," a joint statement by Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz read. The latest unrest in Syria began with kidnappings and attacks between the Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze armed factions in the southern part of the country, according to the Associated Press. Syrian regime forces operating to restore order have also clashed with the Druze and have reportedly been carrying out extrajudicial killings and looting and burning civilian homes. In March, Syria's al Qaeda-linked regime killed members of the Alawite and Christian communities. Former Syrian President Bashar Assad, whose regime was toppled in December by Ahmed al-Sharaa and his group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham — a U.S.-designated terror organization, is a member of the Alawite article source: Israel strikes Syria's military headquarters as the regime clashes with Druze civilians Solve the daily Crossword
