Israel said to have warned Sharaa not to attack Druze before strikes

Israel is said to have warned interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa not to attack Druze before the decision to strike Syrian regime targets.

Israel warned Sharaa not to harm the Druze population ahead of its recent strike on Syrian regime targets, reports Channel 12.

Multiple communications through diplomatic channels, including American and French ones, were conveyed to Damascus in advance, according to the Hebrew network.

“If the Syrian regime harms the Druze, they will have given us no choice but to interfere,” Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar told French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot over the phone yesterday, Channel 12 adds.

Israel’s goal had been to defuse the unrest preemptively, but when that failed, the IDF struck as it had promised — echoing a previous strike on the presidential palace intended as a clear signal of deterrence, Channel 12 continues.

The United States was informed in advance and kept in the loop throughout, adds the report.

Following the strike, Syrian officials reportedly got the message, and the regime began internal processes in response.

A senior Israeli official cited by Channel 12 says that recent events reflect growing instability in Syria, casting doubt on the regime’s ability to govern effectively. If the situation does not improve, Israel now sees little chance of even a modest breakthrough in talks with the new Syrian government, the official says.

A Foreign Ministry spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report.