Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have instructed the army to prepare to defend the predominantly Druze city of Jaramana, located three kilometers from the center of the Syrian capital, Damascus, against the new Syrian government.
Israeli media, including the Maariv newspaper, reported today, Saturday, March 1st, a statement issued by Netanyahu, which said, “We will not allow the extremist terrorist regime in Syria to harm the Druze.”
Netanyahu and Katz stated that they would not permit harm to come to the Druze, saying, “We have instructed the Israel Defense Forces to prepare and send a sharp and clear warning: If the regime harms the Druze, we will harm it.”
The statement highlighted that Israel is committed to preventing any harm to the Druze in Syria, stating, “We will take all necessary steps to ensure their safety.”
The Israeli threat to intervene in Syria comes amid clashes in the city of Jaramana in Rif Dimashq province, following the targeting of elements from the public security forces affiliated with the Ministry of Interior at a security checkpoint in the city.
On Saturday afternoon, the Director of Security in Rif Dimashq, Colonel Hussam al-Tahan, told the Syrian state news agency (SANA) that, in cooperation with community leaders in the city of Jaramana, efforts continue to pursue all those involved in the shooting incident.
He added that the only issue is limited to those who carried out the attack against the public security forces, while calling on those he referred to as “people of reason” to realize that this path threatens the security, stability, and unity of Syria.
In recent days, the tone of Israeli statements toward Syria has shifted, with Israeli officials criticizing the new Syrian administration, considering it to come from a “terrorist background.”
The Israeli Defense Minister criticized the Syrian president during the transitional phase, stating that the new government in Syria “cannot be trusted.”
Minister Israel Katz stated on February 27th that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has come to power in Syria, and “he has replaced his pants with a suit, and he speaks well,” noting that Israel does not trust him.
According to Channel 12 in Israel, Katz said during a press conference, “We only trust the Israel Defense Forces. It has been clear to me and to the Prime Minister that the buffer zone must be occupied, and our policy is to remain there, at the top of Mount Hermon and at the observation points, for an indefinite period.”