On July 17th, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the Israeli military had launched a military strike against targets in southern Syria to prevent the Syrian regime’s armed forces from entering the Druze community. The United States Department of State condemned the violence in Syria and did not support the Israeli action. The Syrian regime warned Israel not to interfere in its internal affairs and accused the southern “illegal forces” of violating ceasefire agreements. Jordan and eleven other Middle Eastern countries issued a joint statement supporting Syria’s security and opposing foreign interference.
According to Xinhua News Agency on July 18th, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on July 17th that the Israeli military had recently carried out a military strike against targets in southern Syria, aiming to prevent the Syrian regime’s armed forces from entering the Druze community.
This is to ensure that the region is “demilitarized” and protect the Druze community.
The statement also mentioned that the United States does not support the recent actions of Israel in Syria. The US Department of State for Syria Affairs has stated that all parties must step back and engage in meaningful dialogue to achieve lasting ceasefire. The US is actively engaging with all parties in Syria to promote a gradual de-escalation and ongoing integration discussions.
The statement further indicated that the US does not support the recent actions of Israel in Syria, having engaged in negotiations with both Israel and the Syrian side.
The Syrian regime warned Israel against “interfering in Syrian internal affairs”
According to news, on July 17th, the Syrian regime released a statement accusing the “illegal forces” in Suwayda province, south of Syria, of violating ceasefire agreements and committing violent acts after the Syrian regime decided to withdraw troops, thereby once again warning Israel against “interfering in Syrian internal affairs”.
The statement said that to avoid further escalation of the situation and respond to mediation efforts from the United States and Arab countries, the Syrian regime decided to withdraw troops from Suwayda province to stabilize the local situation. However, the local “illegal forces” violated their ceasefire obligations and once again subjected civilians to violence, directly threatening domestic peace.
当地时间2025年7月16日，叙利亚苏韦达省 （图片来源：新闻）
声明说，叙政权呼吁各方保持冷静和克制，将追究参与“犯罪和违法行为”者的责任，“无论其所属派别如何”。叙政权还重申将保护所有叙利亚人民，“无论宗派或宗教背景如何”。
声明警告以色列不要继续公然“干涉叙利亚内政”，称这只会导致进一步的混乱和破坏，并使地区局势进一步复杂化。
据叙利亚国家通讯社报道，苏韦达省一些“非法”武装团体当天在叙政权武装撤出后对当地贝都因部落平民发动袭击，导致一些平民伤亡和流离失所。报道说，以色列当天对苏韦达省发动新一轮空袭。
另据总部设在英国的“叙利亚人权观察组织”17日消息，叙政权武装撤离后，苏韦达省发生一系列“处决”和宗派报复事件，尤其针对贝都因部落人员。贝都因部落武装重新组织反击，当地冲突仍可能继续。
据新华社，约旦外交部7月17日发表声明说，约旦、阿联酋等11个中东国家当天发表联合声明，支持叙利亚安全、统一、稳定和主权，反对外国干涉叙利亚事务。
声明说，约旦、阿联酋、巴林、土耳其、沙特阿拉伯、伊拉克、阿曼、卡塔尔、科威特、黎巴嫩、埃及等国外长过去两天里就叙利亚局势密集磋商，统一立场。
Foreign Ministers unanimously emphasized their support for Syria’s security, unity, stability, and sovereignty, opposing any foreign interference in Syrian affairs. They welcomed the agreement reached to end the crisis in the Suweida province and stressed the importance of implementing the agreement to protect Syria’s unity and the safety of its citizens. They also supported efforts to establish security, national sovereignty, and the rule of law in Suweida province and throughout Syria, opposing violence, sectarianism, provocation of discord, and incitement of hatred.
The foreign ministers condemned Israel’s attack on Syria, viewing it as a blatant violation of international law and an open infringement of Syria’s sovereignty. They called for the international community to support the reconstruction process in Syria, and urged the United Nations Security Council to take responsibility to ensure Israel’s complete withdrawal from Syria, halt all hostile actions and interventions against Syria, and implement Security Council Resolution 2766 and the “Force Separation Agreement” signed between Syria and Israel in 1974 in the Golan Heights.
On the 13th of this month, intense conflict erupted between the Druze armed factions and Bedouin tribes in Suweida province, with the Syrian government’s internal and defense ministries intervening and engaging in firefights with some of the Druze armed groups. On the 16th, the Syrian government announced the implementation of a new ceasefire agreement in Suweida province.
Following the dramatic political changes in Syria in December last year, Israel, under the pretext of “self-defense,” seized the Golan Heights buffer zone and adjacent areas, seeking cooperation with the majority of the Druze population in Suweida province to establish a so-called “defensive zone” in southern Syria. It also publicly demanded that Suweida and other three southern Syrian provinces be completely demilitarised, refusing entry by Syrian government forces or other armed groups into southern Syria or establishing footholds there. Following the outbreak of conflict in Suweida province, Israel continued to bombard Syrian government targets.