Israel's Condemns Israel's Efforts To Trigger War, Syrian President: We Will Not Give Them A Chance

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. (Wikimedia Commons/Syrian Presidency)

JAKARTA - Syrian interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa on Thursday accused Israel of trying to provoke a wider conflict, vowing his country would not be dragged into the war.

"We, the Syrian people, know very well who is trying to drag us into the war and who is trying to divide us," said President al-Sharaa in a broadcast on national television.

"We will not give them the opportunity to involve our people in a war that will only divide our homeland and spread destruction," he stressed.

Violence broke out in Sweida this week, following a wave of kidnappings last week, causing armed clashes between residents of Druze and Sunni fighters. Government forces intervened to resolve the conflict.

The Israeli military this week attacked government forces in Sweida, arguing to protect the Druze minority and ensure territory near Israel's borders remains militarized.

An Israeli attack on Wednesday blew up the Syrian Defense Ministry building and hit near the presidential palace.

President al-Sharaa blamed Israel for exploiting post-regime instability, accusing it of targeting civilian infrastructure and trying to thwart reconstruction efforts.

"The power alone does not guarantee victory and triggers war is not the same as controlling the outcome," he said.

"We are stronger than any attempt to divide us," said President al-Sharaa.

Responding to internal unrest in the southern province of Sweida, President al-Sharaa said the government had intervened to end armed clashes between local groups.

Clashes between the Bedouin and civilians Druze have escalated in recent days, centered in the city of Sweida, the majority of which are Druze, with Syrian government forces deployed to the region.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights on Thursday reported the death toll from violence had risen to 360.

President al-Sharaa blamed "forbidden factions" for refusing dialogue and sparking chaos, while accusing Israel of exploiting riots through attacks on civilian infrastructure to thwart peace efforts.

He also reiterated the position of the Druze community in Syrian society, underlined the country's commitment to protecting their rights and freedoms, and warned against dragging the Druze community into foreign agendas.

"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," President al-Sharaa stressed.