Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Thursday delivered a defiant televised address to the nation, vowing to protect Syria’s Druze minority and accusing Israel of exploiting internal unrest in an attempt to fragment the country.
Speaking amid ongoing sectarian clashes in the southern province of Suweida, where more than 300 people have reportedly been killed in recent days, al-Sharaa said the Syrian people, with their long history, had consistently rejected all forms of division.
“We are the sons of this land and the most capable of overcoming the attempts of the Israeli entity to tear us apart,” he said.
Al-Sharaa described Syria’s Druze population as “an essential part of the fabric of the homeland” and pledged that “protecting them is our priority.” Addressing Druze citizens directly, he added: “We reject any attempt to drag you into the hands of an external party.”
The president’s remarks come in the wake of a deadly flare-up in Suweida, where fighting erupted between Druze militias and Bedouin tribes following the abduction of a local merchant. The violence escalated rapidly, prompting Israeli airstrikes on Syrian military targets in Damascus and the south, as well as emergency diplomatic efforts led by the United States to broker a ceasefire.
‘We do not fear war’
While asserting Syria’s willingness to face external aggression, al-Sharaa said the government had deliberately chosen stability over chaos.
“We are not the ones who fear war,” he said. “We have spent our lives facing challenges and defending our people, but we have prioritised the interest of the people over chaos and destruction.”
The interim leader added that while possessing great strength was important, it did not guarantee victory or control over a conflict’s consequences.
“You may be capable of starting a war, but it is not easy to control its outcomes,” he warned.
Government response in suweida
Al-Sharaa said that Syrian state institutions had intervened in full force to prevent further bloodshed in Suweida and had “succeeded in controlling security” after days of clashes that left dozens dead and hundreds wounded.
According to the Syrian state news agency Sana, government forces have begun withdrawing from the province as part of an understanding with Druze religious leaders, following what it termed the “completion of the army’s pursuit of outlaw groups.”
The president also said that local Druze elders had been tasked with helping restore calm in the province.
The Syrian government has accused Israel of attempting to destabilise the country in the aftermath of the Assad regime’s collapse in December, and of exploiting sectarian divisions to weaken national unity.
“Since the fall of the regime, Israel has been seeking to dismantle Syria,” al-Sharaa said, adding that Damascus would not allow the country to be transformed into “a land of conflict.”
Israeli strikes and US mediation
On Wednesday, the Israeli military launched airstrikes targeting Syrian defence installations in central Damascus and military convoys headed towards Suweida. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the operations were aimed at “saving our Druze brothers” and eliminating what he called “regime gangs.”
The Syrian foreign ministry condemned the strikes as a “treacherous aggression,” accusing Israel of violating international law and attempting to incite chaos.
In a statement issued later the same evening, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington had agreed with regional partners on “specific steps” to end the violence. He expressed hope that the situation would stabilise within hours.
Syria’s foreign ministry welcomed the US-led diplomatic efforts, calling them “constructive” and aimed at preserving the country’s territorial integrity.
