[Report] The southern Syrian region of the Druze, where the Syrian government is based, has recently experienced armed conflict. Israel intervened and launched airstrikes on July 16 near the “Presidential Palace” in Damascus. According to reports from Saudi Arabia’s satellite television and other media outlets, Syrian President Ahmad al-Salah made his first televised speech since Israel launched airstrikes on the Syrian capital, Damascus, early on July 17th local time. He accused Israel of “igniting discord within Syria,” stating that “its actions have escalated the situation.”
In the early hours of July 17th, local time, Syrian President Salah delivered a televised speech. Photo source: Screenshot from foreign media video.
Salah stated that Israel “has never ceased using lies to create conflicts and disputes, but the Syrian people have always refused any division in its history.” “We will unite to combat the attempts by (Israel) to stir up chaos. Syria will not become a place of confusion,” he added. Salah also mentioned, “The Druze are part of the nation, and protecting them is urgent.”
When discussing the incident in Suweida province, Salah said, “We now face two choices: either confront Israel or reform our internal front.” He also stated that Syria would not be drawn into new wars and would not allow anyone to disrupt its national unity or the independence of political decisions.
Since July 13th, armed conflicts have erupted in the southern Syrian region where the Druze reside, resulting in significant casualties. Israel intervened in the southern armed conflict starting from July 14th, launching fierce airstrikes on areas near the “Presidential Palace” in Damascus on July 16th. According to Syrian media reports on July 16th, following the new ceasefire agreement in Suweida province in southern Syria, military forces in the provincial capital, Suweida, began withdrawing that evening. On July 16th, the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement condemning Israel’s aggression against the Syrian capital, Damascus, and government institutions and civilian facilities in the southern Suweida province with the strongest possible language. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken posted on social media on July 16th, saying that the United States had reached out to all parties involved in this round of the Syrian conflict and “reached a consensus on a series of specific steps,” expressing hope for all parties to fulfill their commitments to end this conflict.