WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
Choose language:
AUTHOR: M.J. GDNUS
Israel carried out strikes today on Syrian government forces in the Sweida area in southern Syria, stating it was acting to protect the Druze minority community and vowing to ensure that the area near the Israeli border remains demilitarized.
A Reuters journalist heard at least four strikes as drones flew over the city and saw a damaged tank being towed away, while gunfire echoed through the city as violence entered its third day.
The surge in violence in the predominantly Druze city presents a new challenge for interim president Ahmed al-Shara in a part of Syria where Israel has pledged to protect the Druze community.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the military to “immediately strike regime forces and weaponry brought into the Sweida area… for regime operations against the Druze,” according to a statement.
“Israel is committed to preventing any harm to the Druze in Syria, due to the deep alliance and brotherhood with our Druze citizens in Israel,” the statement said.
“We are acting to prevent the Syrian regime from harming them and to ensure the demilitarization of the area near our border with Syria.”
Earlier on Tuesday, influential Druze leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri issued a statement accusing Syrian government forces of violating a ceasefire and shelling the city, calling on fighters to resist government troops.
Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Kasra later released a statement saying a full ceasefire was in effect and that government forces would only return fire if attacked.
