Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, the spiritual leader of the Druze community in Israel, issued a strongly worded statement on Tuesday, July 16, calling on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz to fulfill their “commitment to protect the Druze in Syria.”

In the statement, quoted by The Times of Israel, Tarif described what he called a “horrific and brutal massacre” taking place in Jabal al-Druze in southern Syria, where, according to him, “innocent civilians—women, children, and the elderly—are being slaughtered in cold blood.”

He added:
“Regrettably, the Israeli army and government are taking no meaningful action to stop this killing, despite their clear promises.”

Tarif demanded “immediate airstrikes to halt the criminal forces operating in southern Syria,” warning that failure to act would result in a “serious and unprecedented crisis” between the Druze community and the State of Israel. “Silence and passive observation are no longer an option,” he said.

The statement comes amid intense clashes in Suwayda between Syrian government forces and local factions that Damascus has labeled “outlaws.” Israeli officials have repeatedly pledged to protect Syria’s Druze population and to enforce a demilitarized zone in southern Syria.

Israel has continued airstrikes on both Suwayda and Damascus despite U.S.-led mediation efforts for de-escalation.

Tarif described Israel’s inaction as a “profound and tragic collapse in the historic and moral alliance between the Druze community and the State of Israel,” noting that “for years, Druze in Israel have stood at the forefront of the state’s battles, sacrificing their lives in defense of shared values.”

He urged the Israeli government to take an unequivocal stand:
“Just as we stand on the front lines defending this country, we expect the same for our brethren being slaughtered in Syria.”

The Druze spiritual leadership and local Druze authorities in Israel also declared a period of national mourning and a general strike across all Druze communities in Israel.

In an unprecedented escalation, the statement called on members of the Druze community to prepare “by all necessary means” to cross the border and assist their “brothers being slaughtered in Syria.”

Shortly after Tarif’s statement, the Israeli army announced it had targeted the General Staff compound of the Syrian regime in Damascus.

In a post on X, army spokesperson Avichay Adraee stated:
“The Israeli army has just struck the entrance gate to the Syrian regime’s General Staff compound in Damascus.”
He added that the IDF “continues to monitor developments and actions against Druze civilians in Syria” and remains on high alert, carrying out strikes as directed by political leadership.

Israel Targets General Staff Compound in Damascus

Earlier the same day, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reiterated that the Syrian army must withdraw its forces from Suwayda or face continued escalation.

“As we’ve made clear and warned,” Katz said, “Israel will not abandon the Druze in Syria and will enforce the disarmament policy we’ve adopted.”

He added that the Israeli military would continue targeting Syrian government forces until they withdraw and warned:
“The level of our response will soon increase if the message is not understood.”

On the ground, Syrian government forces have reportedly regained control of most of Suwayda city, with local factions retreating to the southern and eastern countryside.