Renewed Israeli strikes reported in Sweida as government forces enter Syrian city

By Emanuel Fabian

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and AFP 15 July 2025, 11:20 am

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Syrian government soldiers on a motorcycle pass by a burning tank on the outskirts of Sweida city, where clashes erupted between Druze militias and Sunni Bedouin clans, in southern Syria, July 14, 2025. (AP/Omar Sanadiki)

The Israeli Air Force carried out several strikes in the Sweida area of southern Syria a short while ago, according to Syrian media reports.

The IDF has not yet commented.

The strikes come as Syrian government forces enter the majority Druze city of Sweida in an effort to bring an end to deadly clashes with Bedouin tribes. Yesterday, the IDF carried out strikes against several Syrian tanks that were approaching Sweida.

Israel has previously vowed to protect members of Syria’s Druze community. Defense Minister Israel Katz said yesterday’s strike was “a message and a clear warning to the Syrian regime; We will not allow harm to the Druze in Syria.”

An AFP correspondent at an entrance to Sweida reports violent clashes as government forces enter the city.

A statement from Druze religious authorities had called for local fighters to lay down their arms.

But influential Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, who had initially welcomed the entry of government forces, later called in a statement for “resisting this brutal campaign by all available means.”