{"id":2462981,"date":"2025-07-17T13:04:02","date_gmt":"2025-07-17T17:04:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/netanyahu-takes-victory-lap-as-syria-promises-to-protect-druze\/"},"modified":"2025-07-17T13:06:25","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T17:06:25","slug":"netanyahu-takes-victory-lap-as-syria-promises-to-protect-druze","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/netanyahu-takes-victory-lap-as-syria-promises-to-protect-druze\/","title":{"rendered":"Netanyahu takes victory lap as Syria promises to protect Druze"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fnetanyahu-takes-victory-lap-as-syria-promises-to-protect-druze%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2462981&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Israeli Prime Minister benjamin Netanyahu has declared success in his &#8220;peace through strength&#8221; approach amid recent violence in southwest Syria. Israel conducted military strikes against the Syrian government, including bombings of key targets near Damascus, citing national security adn the protection of the Druze minority as justification. Netanyahu emphasized two red lines: maintaining a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/western-leaders-urge-adherence-to-humanitarian-law-amid-israel-hamas-war\/\" title=\"Western leaders call for respect of humanitarian law during ...-Hamas conflict.\">demilitarized zone south<\/a> of Damascus and protecting the Druze population in the Jabal al-Druze region. These lines were violated by Syrian government forces, prompting Israel&#8217;s military response.<\/p>\n<p>A U.S.-brokered ceasefire appears to be holding, with Syrian government troops withdrawing from the Sweida province, which Druze spiritual leaders are now overseeing. Syrian interim president Ahmed al Sharaa,formerly linked to al-Qaida but now advocating secular democracy,promised to safeguard the Druze people and bring justice to those who attacked the minority community.However, al Sharaa condemned Israeli strikes, accusing Israel of trying to destabilize syria and foment division.<\/p>\n<p>The conflict began after an attack on a Druze civilian by a Bedouin member, escalating longstanding ethnic tensions between the groups. The Druze, known for their self-defense militias, have aspirations for a sovereign state across their regional population. Netanyahu remains firm on using military strength to ensure security and stability in the region.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Netanyahu takes victory lap as Syrian president promises to protect Druze<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2176116\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/benjamin-netanyahu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu<\/a> celebrated the success of his &ldquo;peace through strength&rdquo; stance against Damascus as a U.S.-led peace plan quells violence in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/syria\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">southwest Syria<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Netanyahu made no apologies for his military&rsquo;s actions against the Syrian government, a campaign that included <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3472553\/israel-pummels-damascus-sectarian-fighting-escalates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">bombing the Presidential Palace<\/a> and the Ministry of Defense on Wednesday. He cited national security concerns and the need to protect Druze civilians clashing with state forces.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3474049\/syrian-government-forces-withdraw-druze-new-ceasefire\/\">Syrian government forces withdraw from Druze areas, announces new ceasefire<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3472797\/understanding-enigmatic-druze-community-heart-syrian-unrest\/\">Understanding the enigmatic Druze community at the heart of Syrian unrest<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3473267\/mike-huckabee-ireland-anti-israel-bill-west-bank\/\">Mike Huckabee slams Ireland over &#8216;stupid&#8217; anti-Israel bill: &#8216;Sober up&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve set a clear policy: demilitarization of the area south of Damascus &mdash; from the Golan Heights to the Jabal al-Druze region. That&rsquo;s one red line. The second is protecting our brothers&rsquo; brothers, the Druze in Jabal al-Druze,&rdquo; Netanyahu said in a statement on Thursday.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Druze from Syria and Israel protest on the Israeli-Syrian border in Majdal Shams in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, amid the clashes between Syrian government forces and Druze armed groups in the southern Syrian city of Sweida. (AP Photo\/Leo Correa)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>He continued, &ldquo;Both of these red lines were violated by the regime in Damascus. It sent military forces south of Damascus into the area that is supposed to be demilitarized, and it began massacring Druze. This was absolutely unacceptable to us.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The United States helped negotiate a ceasefire plan late Wednesday that seems to be holding as Israeli strikes taper off and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3474049\/syrian-government-forces-withdraw-druze-new-ceasefire\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Syrian government forces leave the Sweida province<\/a> in the care of Druze spiritual leaders.<\/p>\n<p>While the violence has decreased, the rhetoric from Israel remains far from peaceful, as Netanyahu champions his &ldquo;peace through strength&rdquo; policy as the default response to any provocation.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This was a ceasefire achieved through strength &mdash; not through pleading, not through begging &mdash; through strength. We achieve peace through strength, calm through strength, security through strength &mdash; on seven fronts,&rdquo; Netanyahu said in his speech. &ldquo;This will remain our policy: we will not allow military forces to move south of Damascus, and we will not allow harm to come to the Druze in Jabal al-Druze.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3465243\/trump-removes-terrorist-designation-syrian-leaders-group-lifting-sanctions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Syrian President Ahmed al Sharaa<\/a> promised to protect his nation&rsquo;s Druze community as government military personnel pull out of the province at the heart of recent international conflict.<\/p>\n<p>The president, a former member of al Qaida who has pivoted to championing secular democracy, made overtures to the Druze as a &ldquo;fundamental part of the fabric of [Syria]&rdquo; and promised to bring justice to parties responsible for attacking the minority faith community.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at his office in the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem on Monday, July 14, 2025. (AP Photo\/Ohad Zwigenberg)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;We are eager on holding accountable those who transgressed and abused our Druze people because they are under the protection and responsibility of the state,&rdquo; al Sharaa said in a televised speech on Wednesday night. &ldquo;We affirm that protecting your rights and freedoms is among our top priorities.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The president&rsquo;s tone was far less diplomatic toward Israel, which has been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/activists-in-tech-push-anti-semitic-bds-campaign-inside-workplace-after-israel-defended-self-from-terror\/\" title=\"Activists In Tech Push Anti-Semitic BDS Campaign Inside Workplace After ... Defended Self From Terror\">launching targeted strikes<\/a> against the Syrian government for days.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/israel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Israeli government<\/a> has justified the bombings as necessary to maintain the demilitarized status of southern Syria and protect the Druze communities under attack.<\/p>\n<p>In his speech, al Sharaa accused Israel of attempting to &ldquo;sow division&rdquo; in the nation, which has struggled to find its feet since the violent overthrow of former President Bashar Assad.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Israeli entity, which has consistently targeted our stability and sowed discord since the fall of the former regime, now seeks once again to turn our sacred land into a theatre of endless chaos,&rdquo; al Sharaa said.<\/p>\n<p>He added, &ldquo;We are not among those who fear the war. We have spent our lives facing challenges and defending our people, but we have put the interests of the Syrians before chaos and destruction.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Syria&rsquo;s interim president, Ahmad al Sharaa, listens during a press conference in Paris on May 7, 2025. (Stephanie Lecocq\/Pool via AP, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3471135\/syria-sectarian-clashes-druze-bedouin-israel-strikes-government-tanks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">conflict was allegedly sparked<\/a> when a Druze civilian in the Sweida province was stopped, attacked, and robbed by a member of the Bedouin community, with which the Druze have a long-standing ethnic feud.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3472797\/understanding-enigmatic-druze-community-heart-syrian-unrest\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">UNDERSTANDING THE ENIGMATIC DRUZE COMMUNITY AT THE HEART OF SYRIAN UNREST<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Druze, which frequently boast large stockpiles of weapons and organized militia for self-defense from rival groups, responded with attacks against the Bedouins.<\/p>\n<p>Some Druze hope to eventually establish a sovereign state for the approximately 1 million believers currently scattered across Israel, Syria, Lebanon, and elsewhere in the region.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2176116\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2176116\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Netanyahu claims victory as Syria vows to protect Druze<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3468,"featured_media":2462982,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/AP25197454225099-1.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[59271,6524,7887,7621],"class_list":["post-2462981","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-druze","tag-netanyahu","tag-syria","tag-victory"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/AP25197454225099-1.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2462981","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3468"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2462981"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2462981\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2462985,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2462981\/revisions\/2462985"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2462982"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2462981"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2462981"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2462981"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}