President Al-Sharaa Affirms Protecting Druze Residents Is Syria's Priority

Syrian interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa said on Thursday protecting the people of Druze and their rights was "our priority", while Israel vowed to destroy Syrian government forces attacking Druze residents in southern Syria.

In her first televised statement after the devastating Israeli airstrikes in Damascus on Wednesday, Sharaa spoke to Druze residents, saying, "We reject any attempt to drag you into the hands of external parties,"

"We are not among those who fear war. We have spent our lives facing challenges and defending our people, but we have put the interests of the Syrian people ahead of chaos and destruction," he said.

He added that the Syrian people are not afraid of war and are ready to fight if their dignity is threatened.

Israeli airstrikes blew up parts of the Syrian Defense Ministry building and hit near the presidential palace, as the country pledged to destroy government forces attacking Druze residents in southern Syria and demanded them withdraw.

The attacks marked Israel's significant escalation of the Government of President Al-Sharaa. The attacks occurred despite its relations with the United States getting warmer and the close contact between the security of its government and Israel.

Calling Syria's new rulers an undercover jihadist, Israel said it would not allow them to deploy troops to southern Syria and pledged to protect the Druze community in the region from attacks, driven by calls from Israel's own minority Druze.

The US itself said fighting would soon end with the deal being reached.

"We have involved all parties involved in clashes in Syria. We have agreed on specific steps that will end this troubling and dire situation tonight," Foreign Minister Marco Rubio said on social media.

Syria's Human Rights Network said 169 people died in violence this week. Security sources said the number of victims reached 300. Reuters was unable to independently verify the number of victims.

The plan is that the United Nations Security Council will meet on Thursday to discuss the conflict, diplomats said.

"The council must condemn the barbaric crimes committed against innocent civilians on Syrian soil," said Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon.

"Israel will continue to act decisively against any terrorist threat on its border, anywhere and anytime," he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Israeli military was trying to save Druze and urged Israeli Druzes not to cross the border.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military said it was trying to repatriate civilians who had crossed safely.

"We will not allow southern Syria to become a base of terror," said IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir.