Latest news with #SyrianDruze
Free Malaysia Today
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Israel says it deployed forces in southern Syria in support of Druze
Five Syrian Druze citizens were evacuated after being wounded in clashes in Sahnaya. (AP pic) JERUSALEM : Israel's military said today its forces deployed in southern Syria were ready to protect the Druze minority, following recent sectarian clashes. The Israeli army 'is deployed in southern Syria and is prepared to prevent the entry of hostile forces into the area of Druze villages', the military said in a statement, without specifying whether this was a new deployment or elaborating on the number of troops on the ground. A Druze official in Sweida province, the heartland of Syria's Druze community, said there had been 'no deployment of Israeli soldiers there'. Israel's troop presence is 'reportedly confined to Quneitra province' near the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, where the army had 'established positions' following the ousting of long-time president Bashar al-Assad in December, the official added. After deadly sectarian clashes near Damascus earlier this week, Israel has conducted multiple strikes it says were meant to protect the Druze community and warned Syria's Islamist rulers against harming the minority group. Today the Israeli military said that 'five Syrian Druze citizens were evacuated to receive medical treatment in Israel overnight' after sustaining injuries on Syrian territory. The Druze official in Sweida said they had been wounded 'in clashes in Sahnaya', the site of recent sectarian violence near Damascus. They were 'afraid of being sent to hospitals in Damascus, out of fear of being detained', the official added. According to army statements, a total of 15 Syrian Druze have been admitted to hospital in Israel since the beginning of the week. Israel launched more than 20 air strikes inside Syria late yesterday, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, following an attack near the presidential palace in Damascus, which the authorities condemned as a 'dangerous escalation'. Israel's defence minister Israel Katz warned Thursday that Israel will respond forcefully if Syria's new government fails to protect the Druze minority. The Israeli strikes came after Druze clerics and armed factions reaffirmed their loyalty to Damascus, following clashes also involving government-affiliated groups. The observatory monitor said more than 100 people were killed in the clashes in Sahnaya and Jaramana, both near Damascus, and in Sweida province.
Arab News
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
UN envoy condemns intense wave of Israeli airstrikes on Syria
HARASTA, Syria: The United Nations special envoy for the Syrian Arab Republic condemned Saturday an intense wave of Israeli airstrikes as Israel said its forces were on the ground in Syria to protect the Druze minority sect following days of clashes with Syrian pro-government gunmen. The late Friday airstrikes were reported in different parts of the capital, Damascus, and its suburbs, as well as southern and central Syria, local Syrian media reported. They came hours after Israel's air force struck near Syria's presidential palace after warning Syrian authorities not to march toward villages inhabited by Syrian Druze. Israel's military spokesperson Avichay Adraee wrote on X the strikes targeted a military post and anti-aircraft units. He also said the Israeli troops in Southern Syria were 'to prevent any hostile force from entering the area or Druze villages' and that five Syrian Druze wounded in the fighting were transported for treatment in Israel. Syria's state news agency, SANA, reported Saturday that four were wounded in central Syria, and that the airstrikes hit the eastern Damascus suburb of Harasta as well as the southern province of Daraa and the central province of Hama. UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir O. Pedersen, denounced the strikes on X. .@GeirOPedersen I strongly condemn Israel's continued and escalating violations of Syria's sovereignty, including multiple airstrikes in Damascus and other cities. — UN Special Envoy for Syria (@UNEnvoySyria) May 3, 2025 'I strongly condemn Israel's continued and escalating violations of Syria's sovereignty, including multiple airstrikes in Damascus and other cities,' Pedersen wrote Saturday, calling for an immediate cease of attacks and for Israel to stop 'endangering Syrian civilians and to respect international law and Syria's sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, and independence.' Four days of clashes between pro-government gunmen and Druze fighters have left nearly 100 people dead and raised fears of deadly sectarian violence. The clashes are the worst between forces loyal to the government and Druze fighters since the early December fall of President Bashar Assad, whose family ruled Syria with an iron grip for more than five decades. Israel has its own Druze community and officials have said they would protect the Druze of Syria and warned Islamic militant groups from entering predominantly Druze areas. Israeli forces have carried out hundreds of airstrikes since Assad's fall and captured a buffer zone along the Golan Heights. The Druze religious sect is a minority group that 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. In Syria, they largely live in the southern Sweida province and some suburbs of Damascus, mainly in Jaramana and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya to the south.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
UN envoy condemns intense wave of Israeli airstrikes on Syria
UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir O Pedersen (Image: ANI) HARASTA: The United Nations special envoy for Syria condemned Saturday an intense wave of Israeli airstrikes as Israel said its forces were on the ground in Syria to protect the Druze minority sect following days of clashes with Syrian pro-government gunmen. The late Friday airstrikes were reported in different parts of the capital, Damascus, and its suburbs, as well as southern and central Syria, local Syrian media reported. They came hours after Israel's air force struck near Syria's presidential palace after warning Syrian authorities not to march toward villages inhabited by Syrian Druze. Israel's military spokesperson Avichay Adraee wrote on X the strikes targeted a military post and anti-aircraft units. He also said the Israeli troops in Southern Syria were "to prevent any hostile force from entering the area or Druze villages" and that five Syrian Druze wounded in the fighting were transported for treatment in Israel. Syria's state news agency, SANA, reported Saturday that four were wounded in central Syria, and that the airstrikes hit the eastern Damascus suburb of Harasta as well as the southern province of Daraa and the central province of Hama. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Nature Meets Science: This Spray Is Turning Heads in Ear Health Stop Tinnitus Now Learn More Undo UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir O Pedersen , denounced the strikes on X. "I strongly condemn Israel's continued and escalating violations of Syria's sovereignty, including multiple airstrikes in Damascus and other cities," Pedersen wrote Saturday, calling for an immediate cease of attacks and for Israel to stop "endangering Syrian civilians and to respect international law and Syria's sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, and independence." Four days of clashes between pro-government gunmen and Druze fighters have left nearly 100 people dead and raised fears of deadly sectarian violence. The clashes are the worst between forces loyal to the government and Druze fighters since the early December fall of President Bashar Assad, whose family ruled Syria with an iron grip for more than five decades. Israel has its own Druze community and officials have said they would protect the Druze of Syria and warned Islamic militant groups from entering predominantly Druze areas. Israeli forces have carried out hundreds of airstrikes since Assad's fall and captured a buffer zone along the Golan Heights. The Druze religious sect is a minority group that 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. In Syria, they largely live in the southern Sweida province and some suburbs of Damascus, mainly in Jaramana and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya to the south.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
UN condemns intense wave of Israeli airstrikes on Syria
HARASTA, Syria (AP) — The United Nations condemned Saturday an intense wave of Israeli airstrikes on Syria as Israel said its forces were on the ground in Syria to protect the Druze minority sect following days of clashes with Syrian pro-government gunmen. The late Friday airstrikes were reported in different parts of the capital, Damascus, and its suburbs, as well as southern and central Syria, local Syrian media reported. They came hours after Israel's air force struck near Syria's presidential palace after warning Syrian authorities not to march toward villages inhabited by Syrian Druze. Israel's military spokesperson Avichay Adraee wrote on X the strikes targeted a military post and anti-aircraft units. He also said the Israeli troops in Southern Syria were 'to prevent any hostile force from entering the area or Druze villages" and that five Syrian Druze wounded in the fighting were transported for treatment in Israel. Syria's state news agency, SANA, reported Saturday that four were wounded in central Syria, and that the airstrikes hit the eastern Damascus suburb of Harasta as well as the southern province of Daraa and the central province of Hama. U.N. Special Envoy for Syria, Geir O. Pedersen, denounced the strikes on X. 'I strongly condemn Israel's continued and escalating violations of Syria's sovereignty, including multiple airstrikes in Damascus and other cities,' Pedersen wrote Saturday, calling for an immediate cease of attacks and for Israel to stop 'endangering Syrian civilians and to respect international law and Syria's sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, and independence.' Four days of clashes between pro-government gunmen and Druze fighters have left nearly 100 people dead and raised fears of deadly sectarian violence. The clashes are the worst between forces loyal to the government and Druze fighters since the early December fall of President Bashar Assad, whose family ruled Syria with an iron grip for more than five decades. Israel has its own Druze community and officials have said they would protect the Druze of Syria and warned Islamic militant groups from entering predominantly Druze areas. Israeli forces have carried out hundreds of airstrikes since Assad's fall and captured a buffer zone along the Golan Heights. The Druze religious sect is a minority group that 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. In Syria, they largely live in the southern Sweida province and some suburbs of Damascus, mainly in Jaramana and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya to the south. ____ Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report.
Associated Press
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
UN condemns intense wave of Israeli airstrikes on Syria
HARASTA, Syria (AP) — The United Nations condemned Saturday an intense wave of Israeli airstrikes on Syria as Israel said its forces were on the ground in Syria to protect the Druze minority sect following days of clashes with Syrian pro-government gunmen. The late Friday airstrikes were reported in different parts of the capital, Damascus, and its suburbs, as well as southern and central Syria, local Syrian media reported. They came hours after Israel's air force struck near Syria's presidential palace after warning Syrian authorities not to march toward villages inhabited by Syrian Druze. Israel's military spokesperson Avichay Adraee wrote on X the strikes targeted a military post and anti-aircraft units. He also said the Israeli troops in Southern Syria were 'to prevent any hostile force from entering the area or Druze villages' and that five Syrian Druze wounded in the fighting were transported for treatment in Israel. Syria's state news agency, SANA, reported Saturday that four were wounded in central Syria, and that the airstrikes hit the eastern Damascus suburb of Harasta as well as the southern province of Daraa and the central province of Hama. U.N. Special Envoy for Syria, Geir O. Pedersen, denounced the strikes on X. 'I strongly condemn Israel's continued and escalating violations of Syria's sovereignty, including multiple airstrikes in Damascus and other cities,' Pedersen wrote Saturday, calling for an immediate cease of attacks and for Israel to stop 'endangering Syrian civilians and to respect international law and Syria's sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, and independence.' Four days of clashes between pro-government gunmen and Druze fighters have left nearly 100 people dead and raised fears of deadly sectarian violence. The clashes are the worst between forces loyal to the government and Druze fighters since the early December fall of President Bashar Assad, whose family ruled Syria with an iron grip for more than five decades. Israel has its own Druze community and officials have said they would protect the Druze of Syria and warned Islamic militant groups from entering predominantly Druze areas. Israeli forces have carried out hundreds of airstrikes since Assad's fall and captured a buffer zone along the Golan Heights. The Druze religious sect is a minority group that 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. In Syria, they largely live in the southern Sweida province and some suburbs of Damascus, mainly in Jaramana and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya to the south. ____ Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report.
