Druze leader: If the US remains silent, the consequences will be severe

Sheikh Muwaffaq Tarif, the religious leader of the Druze community in Israel, sent a direct message to US President Donald Trump urging him to protect Druze residents in the southern Syrian city of Sweida. Tarif reportedly conveyed this call to Trump through the US Ambassador to Tel Aviv.

According to Israeli media reports, Sheikh Tarif, without addressing the growing global accusations of genocide surrounding Israel's military operations in Gaza, focused his attention entirely on the plight of the Druze in Syria. Tarif claimed that "radical armed groups" in Syria were directly attacking Druze civilians.

In his message, Tarif emphasized that the events in Sweida should be considered violations of fundamental human rights and crimes against humanity. He also stated that US silence on the events would be a source of grave concern.

On July 13, armed clashes reportedly broke out between Bedouin Arabs and some Druze groups in Sweida. Syrian security forces arriving to intervene in the clashes were reportedly ambushed. Although the escalating clashes were halted by a ceasefire, Druze forces loyal to Hekmat al-Hejri reportedly broke the ceasefire and continued their attacks.

On July 16, it was announced that the Israeli army had launched attacks on the Syrian Presidential compound, the General Staff headquarters, and the Ministry of Defense. Following these developments, the Syrian army temporarily withdrew from Sweida. However, it was alleged that Druze armed forces affiliated with the Hejri faction took advantage of this gap, displacing Bedouin families and beginning executions.

In response, thousands of tribal fighters from outside the region arrived in Sweida to support the Bedouin Arabs. As of July 19, the Syrian government redeployed its security forces to Sweida and ensured the tribal fighters' removal from the city.

Hundreds of people, both armed and civilian, have reportedly lost their lives as a result of the clashes and violence that have continued since July 13. Some sources indicate that the death toll may be much higher than reported.