Israel Hits Syrian Tanks Advancing to Border; Protects Druze Arab Villages

Israel said Monday that it had carried out airstrikes on Syrian tanks advancing toward the border region — and toward Druze villages that former jihadist forces linked to the government are suspected of targeting.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman published video of the airstrikes, and only mentioned the threats the tanks posed to Israel itself.

However, Israeli news sources reported that Israel was also acting to protect Druze Arab villages in Syria, which have been threatened by Sunni extremists — as have Christians and Alawites elsewhere in Syria.

The Times of Israel reported:

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.”

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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.”

Israel has a large population of Druze Arabs, who live in the mountainous area that includes areas of Israel, Syria, and Lebanon. The Israeli Druze serve in the IDF and are loyal to the State of Israel.

As Breitbart News has reported, Israel has been sending aid to Syrian Druze villages, some of which asked Israel to take over the area after the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad collapsed in December.

The latest clashes come as the U.S. is attempting to broker peace between Syria and Israel as part of a regional deal.