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The general headquarters in Damascus after the attacks
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Moran Azoulay
MK Hamed Amar (Yisrael Beiteinu) crossed the border into Syria near Majdal Shams, and his office said that he is"working to return the young people who crossed the fence." Amar's office emphasized that the MK entered Syria with IDF forces, and that he is currently in the Druze-Syrian village of Khader."He is in the buffer zone, in a safe place," his associates said."MK Amar is acting out of national responsibility and deep concern for the safety of the Druze youth and the safety of the entire public," his office said.
"Following the developments on the northern border, MK Amar crossed the border into Syrian territory along with security officials, as part of an effort to return the Druze youth to Israel and assist in restoring peace and order to the region," it added. Druze MK Abd Afif (Likud) also crossed the border into Syria.
MK Amar (Photo: Shalev Shalom)
Itamar Eichner
An Israeli security source said that "we are close to resolving the escalation in Syria." He said,"The assessment is that Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara will announce a ceasefire and withdraw his forces from al-Sweida."
(Photo: AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)
Itamar Eichner
President Yitzhak Herzog met with the heads of the Syrian Jewish community in Israel, and with representatives of the Syrian Jewish community worldwide, and told them, in light of the violent clashes in southern Syria, that"this is the time to try and build regional reconciliation. We must not miss the opportunity that has arisen." The Chief Rabbi of Syrian Jews in Israel, Rabbi Benjamin Hamra, added that"the massacre of the Druze is heartbreaking," but called for an optimistic approach toward the regime of President Ahmed al-Sharaa: "We believe that it is headed for peace."
Herzog said in his opening remarks that "the story of Syrian Jewry is an amazing story, which has not yet been fully told. We see how Assad's position is being undermined, and how Iranian influence in the region is weakening - and this opens a rare window of opportunity for regional reconciliation and new agreements. We must not miss this opportunity."
Rabbi Binyamin Hamra, whose father, Avraham Hamra, the late, was the last Chief Rabbi of Syria, spoke about his family's deep historical connection with Syria, and about the dream of peace:"There are contacts with the Syrian regime - through officials in Washington and London, who are familiar with the path that my father paved. Last January, I sent a letter to the Syrian leadership, and I received a positive and surprising response - even from al-Julani, who said he appreciated the appeal."
(Photo: Presidential Spokesperson)
US President Donald Trump was asked about the situation in Syria at a press conference he held with Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa at the White House, which was also attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. President Trump referred the question about the clashes to his counterpart, Rubio, who replied:"The situation is complex. Clearly these are long-standing historical rivalries between different groups in southwestern Syria – the Bedouin, the Druze community – and that has led to an unfortunate situation and what appears to be a misunderstanding between the Israeli side and the Syrian side."
He said,"We have been in contact with them all night and all morning, with both sides. We think we are on the path to a real calm, and then, hopefully, we will get back on track to helping Syria build a state, and to reach a situation where the Middle East will be much more stable. We hope to see real progress in the hours leading up to the end of what you have seen over the last few hours."
(Photo: SAUL LOEB / AFP)
Liran Tamari
Police Commissioner-General Danny Levy arrived in the Golan Heights and held a situation assessment with the participation of the Northern District Commander, Commissioner Meir Eliyahu, and the Head of the Operations Division, Commissioner David Filo. This was reported by a police spokeswoman, who noted that during the meeting, the Commissioner received an overview of the deployment of police officers and activity in the field.
After assessing the situation, Levy met with the spiritual leader of the Druze community, Sheikh Muwafeq Tarif, as well as with the community's dignitaries and heads of authorities."The Commissioner expressed his sympathy to them regarding the situation," the police said. Meanwhile, Levy ordered the mobilization of four additional Border Guard reserve companies to assist in curbing incidents of breaching the fence on the Syrian border.
(Photo: Police spokeswoman)
Hours after Israel intervened with powerful bombings in Damascus, the Druze leadership in As-Suwayda announced that it had reached an agreement with the Syrian regime - which should lead to the withdrawal of its forces, but at the same time to the"full integration" of the Druze stronghold in the Syrian state. 300 have already been killed, with 27 reportedly executed. More evidence of the massacre that took place there.
These are the details of the ceasefire, and the figures for those killed in the clashes.
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(Photo: AP/Ghaith Alsayed)
Lior Ben Ari
The London-based Syrian Center for Human Rights reported that the death toll in the violent clashes in the southern Syrian province of Sweida had risen to 300. According to the Syrian Ministry of Health, one person was killed and 28 were wounded in the Israeli strikes in the capital Damascus. The Reuters news agency reported that a medical source put the death toll in the Israeli strikes at five.
(Photo: Sam HARIRI / AFP)
Ynet
Salem Abu Jabal, a Syrian Druze, was greeted with hugs and kisses by members of the Druze community in Israel upon his arrival in Majdal Shams in the northern Golan Heights. This was after thousands of Israeli Druze crossed the border fence into Syria, while Druze from Syria made the opposite journey to Israeli territory.
(Photo: Jalaa MAREY / AFP)
(Photo: Jalaa MAREY / AFP)
(Photo: Jalaa MAREY / AFP)
Sheikh Yousef al-Jarboa, a senior Druze leader in al-Sweida in southern Syria, said that"the situation in al-Sweida is difficult, there is chaos and shooting." According to him,"We reject any attack against the state because we are Syrian citizens. The ceasefire agreement (with the al-Sharia regime - LBA) has not been implemented, and the attacks continue. Civilians are being attacked and houses in the city are being burned. Security forces fired a shell near my house in al-Sweida." The sheikh criticized Israel: "Their claim that they are providing us with protection has political goals."
(Photo: OMAR HAJ KADOUR / AFP)
Itamar Eichner, Reuters
Marco Rubio (Photo: Umit Bektas / POOL / AFP)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed concern about the escalation in Syria, saying:"We are very concerned about the Israeli attacks, are in contact with all relevant parties - and want the fighting to stop." He said,"As we speak, we are going to work on the issue. Hopefully we will have further updates later today."
An Israeli security source later addressed the Israeli attacks in Syria, saying that"the United States did not ask us to stop the attacks, but it is working to calm the situation and is in contact with all parties." Tom Barak, the US ambassador to Turkey and the US envoy for Syria and Lebanon,"unequivocally" condemned the events in the Sweida province in southern Syria."We unequivocally condemn the violence against civilians, period. All sides must withdraw and hold a meaningful dialogue that will lead to a lasting ceasefire. The perpetrators of the violence must be brought to justice."
Lior Ben Ari
According to a report by the Syrian Ministry of Health, at least nine people have been injured in Israeli attacks in Damascus so far. At the same time, the pro-Iranian"Sabrin" network claimed that dozens of regime members were killed and injured following the attacks deep inside the capital.
Attack on the Presidential Palace in Damascus
Attack on the Syrian Ministry of Defense (Photo: REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi)
Itamar Eichner
Ahmed al-Sharaa (Photo: REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi/File Photo)
In the shadow of the atrocities against the Druze in southern Syria, a senior Israeli official emphasized that"we have an interest in ensuring that the Druze community is not harmed. The people of al-Sharia should come to their senses." According to him,"the legitimacy that the new administration received has caused a disruption in its assessment of reality." A spokesman for the prime minister who was fired two weeks ago for criticizing the government: "The Syrian president cannot be trusted."
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Gal Ganot
The IDF commented this afternoon on the crossing of thousands of Druze across the border into Syria - saying that "we are also forced to deal with anarchy on the Israeli side - but are acting decisively, at the military and political levels, to prevent the regime forces from reaching southern Syria. In addition, two designated training bases have been activated, as part of the expansion of the operational response and preparation for the continuation of the fighting. The army added that at this stage they are not aware of any reports from the field about attacks by Druze against IDF soldiers.
(Photo: AP Photo/Leo Correa, REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi)
Druze storm the border
The IDF also increased the deployment of forces along the border and began extensive attacks against Syrian regime targets in southern Syria - including an attack on a military convoy near the village of al-Mujimar. Earlier, the Air Force also attacked the entrance gate to the general staff complex of the Ahmed al-Shara' (Muhammad al-Julani) regime in the Damascus area.
Defense Minister Katz, who warned this morning that the"reaction threshold" would rise before the attack in Damascus, emphasized that this is a new phase in policy."The signals in Damascus are over - now painful blows will come," Katz said."The IDF will continue to operate vigorously in Sweida to destroy the forces that attacked the Druze until they withdraw completely. Our Druze brothers in Israel, you can count on the IDF to protect your brothers in Syria. The Prime Minister and I made a commitment - and we will keep it." Continue reading
