- Walid Jumblatt to mediate Syria tensions amid Israeli military expansion
- Druze communities face dual pressure from Assad loyalists and IDF operations
- 60% of global Druze population resides in conflict-prone Syrian territories
Lebanon's influential Druze leader Walid Jumblatt revealed plans for a high-stakes diplomatic mission to Damascus during Sunday's press conference. The political veteran accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of orchestrating sectarian discord through military posturing in southern Syria. Recent clashes between Syrian security forces and Druze militants near Jaramana highlight growing instability near critical buffer zones.
Syria's strategic importance to regional Druze populations became evident when Jumblatt last visited Damascus following Bashar Assad's 2023 ouster. Historical records show approximately 550,000 Druze reside in Syria, constituting 60% of the global community. This demographic reality complicates Israel's security calculations as it expands operations near annexed Golan Heights territories.
Three critical insights emerge from recent developments: First, Druze leaders increasingly position themselves as mediators between Arab states and Western powers. Second, Israel's buffer zone strategy inadvertently creates economic dependencies in southern Syrian villages. Third, Jumblatt's dual opposition to Assad and Netanyahu reflects Druze political pragmatism honed through centuries of minority survival tactics.
The Sweida province case study demonstrates this balancing act. Local Druze simultaneously protested Assad's authoritarianism and condemned Israeli airstrikes, employing street demonstrations as both political weapon and cultural tradition. Such nuanced resistance strategies complicate international intervention efforts while preserving communal autonomy.
Regional analysts note Jaramana's clashes mark the first direct Druze-government violence since 2015 Idlib negotiations. Jumblatt's planned Damascus visit suggests renewed Druze attempts to prevent full-scale conflict between Syrian loyalists and Israeli-aligned factions. With Netanyahu's government authorizing military protection for Syrian Druze, the community risks becoming collateral in broader Middle East power struggles.
