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Israel invades Syria to Defend Druze towns; Warns Turkey to back off

Melensdad

Jerk in a Hawaiian Shirt & SNOWCAT Moderator
Staff member
Another war front for Israel.

The Syrian regime toppled several months ago. Bashir Al Assad, no friend, was a dictator who kept the peace through brutal force. But the Allewite community was safe, the Druze community was safe, the Christian community was safe, all within a nation that was dominated by a larger Sunni population. With the overthrow of the regime, the Allewite's fled to a Russian military base and those who made it to the base have been protected by the Russian. The Christians have been facing slaughter and bloodshed. Recently, in the south of Syria the Druze population has come under attack. Israel has several Druze cities and the proximity to southern Syria has led to many alliances among the Druze.

The Israeli Defense Forces are now actively protecting the Druze in southern Syria. Turkey has been jamming transmissions and the Israeli forced have boldly told Turkey to say out of the region while Israel has theye forces in the air or the Turkish planes will be fired upon. My guess is that Israel will formally "annex" the 'disputed' Golan Heights/West Bank area while Trump is President. My guess is that Israel may try to invade southern Syria, under the premise of protecting the Druze communities from the Sunni hostility and then maybe annex that land into Israel as well.


Close Encounter Between Turkish and Israeli Fighter Jets Amid Israeli Airstrikes in Syria

Turkish F-16s

Reports have emerged of a tense close encounter between Turkish and Israeli fighter jets following a series of Israeli airstrikes targeting multiple sites in Syria on the evening of May 2, 2025. The incident underscores escalating regional tensions as both nations vie for influence in the volatile post-Assad Syrian landscape.

According to sources, the Israeli Air Force conducted bombing raids on several military targets in Syria, including sites near Damascus and in the Hama region, aimed at curbing the influence of extremist groups and preventing the use of former Assad regime assets. The strikes, part of a broader Israeli campaign in Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad, have drawn sharp criticism from Turkey, a key backer of Syria’s new interim government.
During these operations, Turkish fighter jets, reportedly operating in or near Syrian airspace as part of Ankara’s efforts to secure influence and establish a defense pact with Damascus, came into close proximity with Israeli aircraft. While no direct confrontation was reported, the incident highlights the growing risk of miscalculation between the two regional powers.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan condemned Israel’s actions, calling them a “dangerous and unacceptable provocation” aimed at destabilizing Syria. Turkish officials have been negotiating a defense agreement with Syria’s interim government, which could involve deploying Turkish forces and air defenses to Syrian airbases like T4 and Hama—sites previously targeted by Israeli strikes. Israel, wary of Turkey’s expanding presence near its border, has accused Ankara of seeking to establish a “Turkish protectorate” in Syria.
The close encounter follows weeks of heightened friction. On April 2, Israeli jets bombed Syrian airbases, including T4, shortly after Turkish military teams inspected them for potential deployment. Analysts suggest Israel’s strikes are a deliberate message to Turkey to limit its military ambitions in Syria. “If Turkey introduces jets or air defenses into Syrian airspace, it significantly restricts Israel’s operational freedom,” said Aron Lund, an analyst with Century International.
 
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Israel deploys forces to Syria as UN condemns 'violations'

Kieran Burke News writer and editor focused on international relations, global security and law enforcement.
8 hours ago
Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces Eyal Zamir pictured in April
Israel has escalated military operations in Syria since rebels ousted Bashar Assad in December, with bombings across the country and ground forces entering its southwestImage: Israel Defense Forces/Anadolu/picture alliance
The Israeli military said forces were in southern Syria to "prevent hostile forces" entering the region and Druze villages. UN special envoy Geir Pedersen slammed Israel's strikes, including on the Syrian capital.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Saturday said it had deployed troops in southern Syria — a move strongly condemned by the United Nations.
In a statement on social media platform X, the IDF said it was "prepared to prevent hostile forces from entering the region and Druze villages."
The military said it evacuated five Syrian-Druze citizens for medical treatment in Israeli territory.
It did not give further detail as to the number of forces involved or if it was a new deployment.
Israel has ramped up military operations in Syria since rebels toppled Bashar Assad in December, with airstrikes on military targets across the country and ground forces entering its southwest.

UN envoy 'strongly condemns' Israeli airstrikes

The UN's special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, has meanwhile slammed Israel for launching airstrikes, calling for an immediate end to hostilities.
"I strongly condemn Israel's continued and escalating violations of Syria's sovereignty, including multiple air strikes in Damascus and other cities," Pedersen said in a post on X.
Pedersen added: "I call for these attacks to cease at once and for Israel to stop endangering Syrian civilians and to respect international law and Syria's sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and independence."
On Friday, Israel launched airstrikes on targets near Syria's presidential palace in Damascus after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Israel would intervene if Syrian authorities failed to protect the Druze minority.

Druze fighters, Syrian forces clash

The airstrikes come after days of sectarian clashes involving Sunni gunmen and members of the Druze community in violence triggered by an audio clip circulated on social media of a man criticizing the Prophet Muhammad.
The audio was attributed to a Druze cleric and sparked anger among Sunni Muslims.
The clashes left dozens of people dead or wounded.
The Druze killings come after a wave of massacres in March in which over 1,700 civilians, many from Syria's Alawite community, are reported to have been killed.
Edited by: Rana Taha and Zac Crellin
 
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