Israel launched several airstrikes on areas in Suwayda, southern Syria, coinciding with the entry of Syrian army and Internal Security Forces into the province amid clashes with local factions.

On Tuesday, July 15, Syria’s state-run SANA news agency reported that “Israeli occupation aircraft carried out several air raids on Suwayda city.”

In a joint statement following the attacks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said they had instructed the Israeli military to strike Syrian government forces “in response to the attack on the Druze in Syria.”

According to the statement, published by The Times of Israel, the Israeli army was ordered to target “regime forces and the weapons brought into the Suwayda area.”

Netanyahu and Gallant stated that these weapons violated the disarmament policy that prohibits the deployment of forces and arms in southern Syria, adding that such a buildup “poses a threat to Israel.”

The statement further stressed Israel’s commitment to protecting the Druze in Syria due to the “deep fraternal alliance with our Druze citizens in Israel and their historic and familial ties with the Druze in Syria.” It said that Israel is acting to prevent the Syrian regime from harming them and to ensure the area near its borders remains demilitarized.

On Tuesday, Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee confirmed the strikes, announcing that Israeli forces targeted military vehicles belonging to Syria’s Ministry of Defense in the Suwayda area.

In a post on X , Adraee stated:

“Following directives from the political leadership, the IDF began targeting military vehicles belonging to the Syrian regime in the Suwayda region of southern Syria.”

Adraee said the strikes were carried out after Israeli surveillance detected convoys of armored personnel carriers and tanks moving toward Suwayda.

“Since yesterday,” he added, “the IDF has targeted several armored vehicles, including tanks, APCs, and rocket launchers, as well as access roads to hinder their arrival in the area.”

He emphasized that the Israeli army “will continue monitoring developments and remains on alert to respond defensively to any emerging scenarios.”

Meanwhile, local groups in Suwayda mobilized along the Damascus-Suwayda road following an armed robbery and assault on a civilian on Saturday, July 12. The incident sparked clashes between local factions and tribal fighters before Syrian army and security forces intervened and entered the city on Tuesday.

Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra declared a full ceasefire in Suwayda on July 15, following an agreement with local elders and notables. Under the deal, government forces will respond only to attacks or gunfire from what the ministry described as “outlawed groups.”

Abu Qasra also announced that Suwayda’s neighborhoods will be handed over to the Internal Security Forces after combing operations are completed, chaos is brought under control, and residents are safely returned to their homes.

On Monday, July 14, Israel had already conducted strikes on Syrian military vehicles moving between the villages of Sajin and Sami’a en route to Suwayda.

Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee stated in a post on X following the strike that the presence of such military assets in southern Syria “could pose a threat to the State of Israel.”

He added that the Israeli army “will not allow a military threat to exist in southern Syria, will act against it, and will continue monitoring developments in the area.”