By David Gritten – BBC News, reporting from Jerusalem
Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has pledged to protect the country’s Druze population following deadly sectarian clashes in Suweida province that triggered a wave of Israeli airstrikes.

In his first televised address since the strikes hit Damascus on Wednesday, Sharaa said safeguarding Druze citizens was a top priority, and warned that Syrians “do not fear war.”

Tensions flared after violence erupted on Sunday between Druze militias and Bedouin tribes in Suweida. The conflict has reportedly claimed more than 350 lives so far. As fighting intensified, Syrian government forces deployed to the city — marking their first appearance there since Sharaa’s Sunni Islamist movement overthrew former President Bashar al-Assad in December, ending over a decade of civil war.

But instead of calming tensions, the government’s intervention escalated the violence. Local activists and residents accused the military of killing civilians and carrying out extrajudicial executions, further deepening distrust.

Israeli Intervention

Israel launched multiple airstrikes in response, accusing Syrian forces of targeting Druze civilians. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was acting “to save our Druze brothers” and to destroy regime “gangs.” Targets included Syrian military headquarters in Damascus, armored vehicles en route to Suweida, and weapons facilities in southern Syria.

Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, Israel’s military chief, said the strikes were aimed at stopping the spread of hostile forces near the Israeli border and preventing the area from becoming a “terror stronghold.”

He also condemned the “disorder” after hundreds of Druze crossed the heavily guarded border between Syria and Israel.

Ceasefire and Concerns

Syrian state media claimed that a ceasefire deal had been reached, under which the army would withdraw from Suweida. However, the situation remains fragile, and it is unclear whether the truce will hold.

Sharaa, once a leader of the former al-Qaeda affiliate Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), faces deep mistrust from Syria’s minority communities. Many fear his Islamist past and the radical elements within his administration.

In Thursday’s speech, he tried to reassure the Druze, calling them “a fundamental part of the fabric of this nation” and denouncing any attempt to drag them into foreign conflicts. He said his forces had succeeded in restoring order in Suweida and pushing out “outlawed factions,” despite Israel’s interference.

He also announced that responsibility for local security would now be handed over to Druze elders and local factions “in the interest of national unity.” He concluded by promising accountability for those who “abused and harmed our Druze people.”

International Reactions

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said diplomatic efforts were underway to resolve the crisis. He stated that “specific steps” had been agreed upon with various parties to bring the violence to an end, though he did not reveal details.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that over 350 people had died since the clashes began. Among the dead are 79 Druze fighters, 55 civilians — including 27 reportedly executed by security forces — and nearly 190 government soldiers. Eighteen Bedouin tribal fighters were also killed.

While these figures could not be independently confirmed, Syrian security sources also placed the death toll at nearly 300.

The flare-up highlights the lingering instability in post-war Syria and the continued vulnerability of minority groups like the Druze in a fractured and volatile political landscape.