WhatsappSyrian Jihadist dictator Abu Mohammad al-Julani, has finally decided to send his henchmen to slaughter the Druze of Jaramana and Sahnaya, which lies just south of Damascus. This is the same Jaramana and Sahnaya that Prime Minister Netanyahu promised to defend against the Sunni Jihadists.
Fierce gun battles and an amassing of Syrian regime forces in and around the two villages have been reported. In response, the head of the Druze community in Israel, Muafak Tarif, calls for Israeli intervention to prevent a massacre of Druze in the Damascus area. Druze in northern Israel have been seen protesting and calling for Israel to enter the fray to save their brethren. Some have been seen crossing into Syria to join up with other Druze to help defend Jaramana and Sahnaya.
It didn’t take long for a response as Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz issued the following joint statement on the clashes in Syria:
“In accordance with the directives of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, and Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, the IDF carried out a warning operation and attacked an organization of an extremist group that was preparing to continue attacking the Druze population in the town of Sahnaya, in the Damascus province of Syria. At the same time, a serious message was also conveyed to the Syrian regime – Israel expects it to act to prevent harm to the Druze. Precisely on Memorial Day for the Fallen in Israel’s Armed Forces, when we honor the great contribution of the Druze community to Israel’s security and the memory of the Druze fallen who sacrificed their lives to defend the State of Israel, we see great importance in realizing our commitment to the Druze community in Israel and to protecting their brothers in Syria. Israel will not allow harm to the Druze community in Syria out of a deep commitment to our Druze brothers in Israel, who are connected by family and historical ties to their Druze brothers in Syria.”
The IDF issued the following statement: “Following a situational assessment, the Chief of the General Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir, instructed the IDF to prepare to strike targets belonging to the Syrian regime should the violence against Druze communities continue. Today (Wednesday), the IAF struck operatives on the outskirts of Damascus who had attacked Druze civilians. The IDF is monitoring developments in the region, and IDF troops are deployed and prepared for defense and developments in the area of Syria.”
Israel appears to have already begun to strike as Syrian sources report seeing an Israeli Hermes 450 UAV and fighter jets in the skies over Damascus as well as in the skies over Sahnaya, just south of the capital. Reports indicate that the Israeli Air Force has so far attacked in the southern Damascus area 5 times.
The Lebanese Al-Mayadeen channel is reporting that the mosques in the Eastern Ghouta area of Damascus have announced a general mobilization and are calling on everyone who can carry weapons (Sunnis) to come to Tahnaya and Jaramana (the Druze areas). The channel is also reporting the movement of (Sunni) militants from Hama, Aleppo, and Idlib toward Jaramana and Tahnaya in Damascus.
This movement of Jihadist reinforcements will trigger a stronger response from the IDF. With no sign of abating, the violence will ultimately require direct involvement from the IDF in partnership with the local Druze. Expect IDF units made up of Druze soldiers from Israel to assist their brethren with fill back from the IDF command.
The Jihadists may be blood thirsty and barbaric, but they do not have the training, modern weapons, or air power the IDF has. If the battles continue, Israel will enter Syria with full force.
