As a wave of Israeli assaults on Syrian forces rocks the delicate crust of a Center East peace, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is making an attempt to cease a full-scale warfare from erupting.
After two days of Israeli assaults on Syrian forces, Rubio stated he was hopeful the assaults would cease.
“It’s sophisticated, clearly. These are historic, longtime rivalries between completely different teams within the southwest of Syria — Bedouins, the Druze group — and it led to an unlucky state of affairs and a misunderstanding, it appears to be like like, between the Israeli aspect and the Syrian aspect,” Rubio stated in a video posted to X.
“So we’ve been engaged with all of them morning lengthy and all night time lengthy, with either side, and we expect we’re on our method in direction of an actual de-escalation,” he stated.
.@SecRubio on Syria: “These are historic, longtime rivalries … and it led to an unlucky state of affairs and a misunderstanding … We’re on our method in direction of an actual de-escalation … Within the subsequent few hours, we hope to see some actual progress to finish what you’ve been seeing.” pic.twitter.com/2cMcnLdDm7
— Fast Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 16, 2025
“After which hopefully get again on observe in serving to Syria construct a rustic and arriving at a state of affairs there within the Center East that’s way more secure. So, within the subsequent few hours, we hope to see some actual progress to finish what you’ve been seeing over the past couple hours,” he stated.
Most of Syria is Muslim, however the Druze have their very own religion. Final yr, after a Muslim-controlled authorities took energy, Druze communities expressed their fears that they might turn into targets of the brand new regime, which has stated it seeks to respect all faiths, and sought to be annexed by Israel, which has its personal Druze communities.
On Wednesday, as Rubio spoke in Washington, Syrian and Druze leaders stated they’d reached a cease-fire, in line with NBC. That got here after Israeli air strikes hit targets within the Syrian capital of Damascus.
Announcement of the cease-fire drew skepticism from Druze leaders in Syria, in line with the Instances of Israel.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog sounded an aggressive be aware on the topic Wednesday as Israeli assaults continued.
“Israel doesn’t stand idly by when there may be even the potential for a jihadist menace over the border,” he stated.
“Second, Israel doesn’t stand idly by when our allies and relations of Israelis – the little children of the Druze group, an integral a part of us – are beneath assault and in peril of a horrific bloodbath,” he stated.
Israel’s intervention was precipitated by assaults on the Druze from Muslim Bedouin clans close to the town of Sweida that left virtually 100 useless, in line with the Instances of Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Protection Minister Israel Katz stated in an announcement, “Israel is dedicated to stopping hurt to the Druze in Syria as a result of deep brotherly alliance with our Druze residents in Israel, and their familial and historic ties to the Druze in Syria, and we’re performing to stop the Syrian regime from harming them, and to make sure the demilitarization of the world adjoining to our border with Syria.”
Israeli airstrikes on Syrian authorities forces proceed within the Sweida space, the IDF says, releasing footage.
The IDF says strikes up to now few hours hit armored automobiles and pickup vans with mounted machine weapons, that have been heading to the Druze majority metropolis of Sweida the place… pic.twitter.com/uNZgcvjadQ
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) July 16, 2025
The advance of Syrian troops into the area violated “the demilitarization coverage that was determined, prohibiting the entry of forces and weapons into southern Syria that endanger Israel,” the assertion stated.
Syrian Inside Ministry spokesperson Noureddine Al-Baba stated, the “clashes are essentially not sectarian in nature.”
“The true battle is between the state and bandits and criminals, not between the state and any Syrian group,” he stated. “Quite the opposite, the state views the Druze group in Sweida as a associate in advancing the nationwide unity mission.”
This text appeared initially on The Western Journal.
