Is Israel exploiting distrust between Syria’s Druze and Damascus?
Beyond the Headlines18 Heinä 2025

Is Israel exploiting distrust between Syria’s Druze and Damascus?

The city of Sweida in southern Syria became a battleground this week after a series of retaliatory attacks between Druze militiamen and Bedouin tribes escalated.

President Ahmad Al Shara's government deployed general security forces to the area, ostensibly to restore order. What followed were deadly confrontations and dozens of soldiers were killed. But residents of the Druze-majority city say the government's response was brutal. Populous neighbourhoods came under heavy shelling, forcing people to flee, and civilians were killed in the crossfire.

From across the border, Israel intervened with strikes on key government sites including the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Damascus. It stepped in to defend the Druze, Israeli officials said.

The violence killed hundreds of people before a ceasefire was announced on Wednesday. But what is at the root of the tension between this Druze minority and the new leadership in Syria? And why is Israel imposing itself on the conflict?

In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Nada AlTaher digs deep into the many complex layers that brought bloodshed to Sweida this week. She speaks to Syria experts and academics Rahaf Aldoughli and Joshua Landis, and we also hear from a Druze fighter involved in the conflict.

Jake Pace Lawrie contributed reporting to this episode.

Editor’s Note: We want to hear from you! Help us improve our podcasts by taking our 2-minute listener survey. Click here.

Jaksot(477)

Will Europe’s shift on Israel’s war in Gaza change anything?

Will Europe’s shift on Israel’s war in Gaza change anything?

Too little, too late. This was the sentiment echoed among critics in the international community after Europe started taking a new, critical stance on Israel’s war in Gaza in recent weeks. For Palesti...

6 Kesä 202520min

Can Israel be trusted to distribute aid in Gaza?

Can Israel be trusted to distribute aid in Gaza?

Chaotic scenes unfolded in Gaza this week as large crowds gathered at aid hubs set up by a US and Israeli-backed organisation, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. After three months of an Israeli-impose...

30 Touko 202524min

Sanctions are easing but can Syria hold together?

Sanctions are easing but can Syria hold together?

Last week’s announcement by President Donald Trump on lifting US sanctions on Syria seemed to have a refreshing effect for a country that has been reeling from political divisions and economic turmoil...

23 Touko 202526min

Will Middle East tension ease as a result of Donald Trump’s visit to the Gulf?

Will Middle East tension ease as a result of Donald Trump’s visit to the Gulf?

US President Donald Trump has returned to Washington after sealing hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of investments on his first visit to the Gulf since returning to office. His stops in Riyadh, ...

16 Touko 202521min

What’s at risk under Israel’s planned Gaza offensive?

What’s at risk under Israel’s planned Gaza offensive?

Israel’s security cabinet has approved an expanded military offensive in Gaza that would push the entire population into a small pocket in the south of the strip. Shortly after the decision, Israeli P...

9 Touko 202522min

Trump’s first 100 days: What ‘America first’ means for the Middle East

Trump’s first 100 days: What ‘America first’ means for the Middle East

During the first 100 days of Donald Trump’s administration, he has signed more executive orders than any other president in the same time span. They are part of his mandate to put "America first". But...

2 Touko 202522min

Why Christians in occupied Palestine may be at risk of disappearing

Why Christians in occupied Palestine may be at risk of disappearing

In his last public address on Easter Sunday, Pope Francis called for an end to the violence in Gaza, calling the humanitarian situation there "dramatic and deplorable”. His message came only a day bef...

25 Huhti 202521min

Why legal action against alleged Israeli war crimes is so slow

Why legal action against alleged Israeli war crimes is so slow

When the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last year accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant of crimes against humanity, it seemed...

18 Huhti 202529min

Suosittua kategoriassa Politiikka ja uutiset

aikalisa
rss-ootsa-kuullut-tasta
ootsa-kuullut-tasta-2
tervo-halme
politiikan-puskaradio
rss-podme-livebox
et-sa-noin-voi-sanoo-esittaa
viisupodi
otetaan-yhdet
rss-asiastudio
rss-mina-ukkola
rikosmyytit
the-ulkopolitist
rss-vaalirankkurit-podcast
io-techin-tekniikkapodcast
linda-maria
rss-kiina-ilmiot
rss-kaikki-uusiksi
rss-hyvaa-huomenta-bryssel
rss-kuka-mina-olen