Al-Shara's remarks come amid fears of escalating sectarian violence in the aftermath of clashes in southern Syria.
Syria's President Al-Shara Denounces Israeli Airstrikes and Sectarian Tensions
Syria's President Al-Shara Denounces Israeli Airstrikes and Sectarian Tensions
Syria's President warns of chaos following Israeli military actions amidst internal clashes.
President Ahmed al-Shara of Syria has issued a stern condemnation of Israel, accusing the country of attempting to instigate “chaos” within Syrian borders. This remark came shortly after Israeli airstrikes targeted locations in Damascus, causing damage to the Ministry of Defense building and proximity to the presidential palace.
In a televised address, President al-Shara expressed his criticism of Israel's “wide-scale targeting of civilian and government facilities.” His comments marked the most pointed denunciation of Israeli actions since he ascended to power in January. This escalation in rhetoric was spurred by recent unrest in the southern Sweida province, the heartland of Syria’s Druse minority, following violent clashes between Bedouin tribes and Druse militias.
The unrest began on Sunday when fighting broke out, with both the Syrian government and local militias involved. The situation escalated to the point where the Syrian government dispatched military forces to the region, which was interpreted by some Druse leaders as an impending attack, prompting them to mobilize defenses against government troops.
The international implications intensified as Israel responded with airstrikes on Syrian forces in both Sweida and the capital. This was preceded by threats from Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz regarding the possible intensification of military actions should Syrian forces remain in Sweida. Observers have noted a substantial increase in Israeli air operations within southern Syria since al-Shara's rebel-led government unseated Bashar al-Assad in December.
Reports indicate that at least 350 individuals have lost their lives in the ongoing clashes, including government troops, Druse fighters, and civilians. Despite the violence, by Thursday, tensions seemed to ease slightly. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed via social media that the U.S. had played a role in mediating a resolution among the conflicting parties.
President al-Shara, while addressing the nation, acknowledged that the Israeli strikes had the potential to escalate the situation significantly but credited U.S., Arab, and Turkish mediators for preventing a larger crisis. In a hopeful turn, a cease-fire was announced and the Syrian government affirmed that security responsibilities in Sweida would transition to local leaders as part of a peace agreement, emphasizing that the Druse community would remain under state protection.
In a televised address, President al-Shara expressed his criticism of Israel's “wide-scale targeting of civilian and government facilities.” His comments marked the most pointed denunciation of Israeli actions since he ascended to power in January. This escalation in rhetoric was spurred by recent unrest in the southern Sweida province, the heartland of Syria’s Druse minority, following violent clashes between Bedouin tribes and Druse militias.
The unrest began on Sunday when fighting broke out, with both the Syrian government and local militias involved. The situation escalated to the point where the Syrian government dispatched military forces to the region, which was interpreted by some Druse leaders as an impending attack, prompting them to mobilize defenses against government troops.
The international implications intensified as Israel responded with airstrikes on Syrian forces in both Sweida and the capital. This was preceded by threats from Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz regarding the possible intensification of military actions should Syrian forces remain in Sweida. Observers have noted a substantial increase in Israeli air operations within southern Syria since al-Shara's rebel-led government unseated Bashar al-Assad in December.
Reports indicate that at least 350 individuals have lost their lives in the ongoing clashes, including government troops, Druse fighters, and civilians. Despite the violence, by Thursday, tensions seemed to ease slightly. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed via social media that the U.S. had played a role in mediating a resolution among the conflicting parties.
President al-Shara, while addressing the nation, acknowledged that the Israeli strikes had the potential to escalate the situation significantly but credited U.S., Arab, and Turkish mediators for preventing a larger crisis. In a hopeful turn, a cease-fire was announced and the Syrian government affirmed that security responsibilities in Sweida would transition to local leaders as part of a peace agreement, emphasizing that the Druse community would remain under state protection.
