In a rare move, Israel has authorized a 48-hour deployment of Syrian internal security forces to stabilize As-Suwayda amid violent clashes between Druze and Bedouin factions.
Southwestern Syria —
In a bid to de-escalate rising sectarian tensions in As-Suwayda, Israel has agreed to permit the temporary entry of Syrian regime internal security forces into the Druze-majority district, according to diplomatic and regional sources.
The decision, coordinated amid growing instability, aims to separate warring Druze and Sunni Bedouin groups and restore limited order to the volatile area. The authorized presence of Syrian security forces is strictly limited to 48 hours and will be governed by predefined conditions to prevent any further deterioration of the situation.
According to reports from Al-Jazeera, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, a prominent spiritual leader of the Druze community in As-Suwayda, formally requested support from the Damascus government after Bedouin tribes launched a significant overnight assault on the district.
The decision by Israel to greenlight a limited regime deployment represents an unusual instance of coordination, albeit informal, as it seeks to prevent a broader spillover of violence in a region historically marked by delicate communal balances and strategic sensitivities.
The conditions imposed on the 48-hour operation are intended to ensure restraint, protect civilians, and limit long-term Syrian regime entrenchment in an area where Israel has traditionally opposed government and Iranian-aligned presence.
The situation remains fluid, with regional observers watching closely to see whether this temporary measure can successfully reduce tensions or merely delay deeper confrontation.
