Druze near Damascus resist demand to turn in arms as tensions boil

In the Druze region of the southern part of the country, tensions have intensified after clashes near the capital. Despite a ceasefire agreement, the distrust of the central authorities persists. The population organizes itself between self-defence, negotiation and internal divisions.

Druze in Syria and their history

The political crisis that began with the fall of the Ba'ath regime in Syria has not been resolved. Following the regime's collapse, control over western Syria was handed to the forces of HTS (Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham), a group with roots in the al-Nusra Front. These forces, influenced by Turkey, are trying to reshape the new Syria under a singular and Salafi ideology. A recent massacre targeting Alawites on the Mediterranean coast was a concrete ex…

As Syria’s Druze minority reels from violence, Israel pursues an opening

Attacks on the Druze by Islamist gunmen backing the new Syrian government have pushed some in the community to welcome Israeli promises of protection.

Israel's Syrian border: Major J. discusses new defense strategy

Major J.'s story is of an Israeli-Druze family from Ma’jar which is inseparable from Israel’s military and security forces.

Behind Israel's support for the Druze lies goal to weaken Syria

Israel's stated commitment to defending the Syrian Druze is, by the admission of some of its leaders, consistent with a long-term strategic goal -- the weakening of Syria.Israel, which has occupied part of Syrian territory since 1967, claimed to be protecting the Druze minority to justify several strikes following recent, bloody inter-communal clashes in Syria.In the aftermath of one strike near the Presidential Palace in Damascus on May 3, Prim…

Syria’s Druze divided as sectarian tensions linger after violence

Agreements to halt fighting ease tensions, but fear and mistrust linger among Druze in post-Assad Syria.