ADVERTISINGThe situation in the Middle East continues to intensify while Israel makes its second attack against Syria in two daysas confirmed by Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who reaffirmed his commitment to protect the Drusa community amid increasing sectarian tensions.
“Israel attacked last night near the presidential palace in Damascus,” Netyahu said in a joint statement with Israel Katz defense minister. “This is a clear message to the Syrian regime: We will not allow the deployment of forces (Syrian) to the south of Damascus or any threat to the Drusa community“.
The Israeli army confirmed that He attacked “adjacent to the area of the Palace of Ahmed Hussein to Sharaa in Damascus”, without specifying the precise objective. Syrian authorities have not issued immediate comments about the incident.
These attacks reflect the Israel’s distrust towards Sunni Islamists who overthrew Bashar al Assad in December, raising an additional challenge to the efforts of the interim president Ahmed al Sharaa to establish control over the fractured nation.
Sectarian tensions increasing: Who are the drusos?
The sectarian violence that triggered this response began on Tuesday with confrontations between Sunni Drusos and militiamen in Jaramanapredominantly Drusa area. The incidents were caused by a voice recording that insulted the prophet Muhammad and that Sunni militants suspected had been Made by a Druso.
According to reports, More than a dozen people died on Tuesdaybefore violence extended to the mainly Drusa de Sahnaya city on the outskirts of Damascus on Wednesday.
Druss profess a faith that is a branch of Islam and have followers in Syria, Lebanon and Israel. This minority community has been historically vulnerable during periods of political instability in the region, which explains the rapid Israeli intervention to protect them.
Israel intensifies its regional presence
Since Assad was overthrown in December, Israel has taken control of territories in the southwest From Syria, he has promised to protect the Druzos, has pressed Washington to keep the neighboring state weak and has destroyed much of the heavy armament of the Syrian army in the days after overthrow.
The interim president Sharaa, who was a commander of Al Qaeda before giving up his links with the group in 2016, has repeatedly promised to govern Syria in an inclusive way. However, incidents of sectarian violence, including the murder of hundreds of Alauitas in MarchThey have intensified fears among minority groups about the now dominant Islamist.
