Why is There Fighting Between Israel and Syria Again?

Once again, tensions are flaring along the Israel-Syria border and this time, the cause is rooted deep in local grievances, military shifts, and a growing international power play.

Recently, Israel launched a series of airstrikes into southern Syria, targeting tanks, military bases, and heavy artillery belonging to government-aligned forces. These strikes came after violent clashes erupted between the Syrian military and members of the Druze community, a small but fiercely independent religious minority in southern Syria.

While a temporary ceasefire has been reached, the fighting has raised a critical question on why Israel is suddenly so involved in Syria’s internal conflict?

What’s happening in Syria?

Southern Syria particularly the As-Suwayda region is home to the country’s Druze population. Over the years, the Druze have largely defended their territory from outside threats, including extremist groups like ISIS. 

They’ve maintained a level of autonomy, especially after the fall of the Assad regime in late 2024.

Now, with a transitional government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa trying to pull Syria back into a unified system, the Druze are pushing back. 

They, along with other minority groups like the Kurds and Alawites, are advocating for a federal model, one that gives each region more control over its affairs.

This demand for decentralisation directly challenges the central government’s push for full authority across Syria. That disagreement boiled over into recent fighting in Suwayda, prompting Israel to step in militarily.

Why did Israel get involved?

Israel’s involvement isn’t entirely new, but the scale and timing of its strikes point to two key motivations:

Protecting Its Northern Border

Israel has long viewed the chaos in Syria as a security risk. With militias and rival factions vying for control, the Israeli government sees the southern Syrian region as a potential staging ground for attacks on Israeli soil.

In the words of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel “will not allow Syrian forces to harm [the Druze]” or threaten the demilitarised zone near Israel’s border. 

So, when clashes broke out between Druze fighters and government troops, Israel responded with force bombing military installations to prevent a larger threat from forming close to its territory.

Supporting a Federal Syria

There’s also a more strategic interest: Israel appears to favour a fragmented Syria. By supporting minority groups like the Kurds in the northeast and the Druze in the south, Israel strengthens its alliances while weakening the possibility of a united Syrian government that could one day become hostile again.

Some Israeli officials have publicly stated that a single, centralised Syria is no longer realistic. They envision a new political map — one that divides Syria into self-governed regions, each with less capacity to challenge Israel’s influence in the Middle East.

What do the Druze want?

The Druze are not seeking domination, they want autonomy. Scattered across Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, and Syria, this religious minority has long preferred to govern itself quietly. 

In Syria, they are concentrated in the southern mountains and have grown weary of Damascus trying to impose full control on their region.

Their calls for a federal system aren’t isolated. They reflect a broader post-Assad sentiment across many parts of Syria, a hope for more inclusive governance that recognizes regional and ethnic identities. 

But the central government sees this as a threat to national unity and is using military force to reestablish authority.

Where does the US stand?

The United States is reportedly urging Israel to tone down its military campaign to avoid triggering a larger regional crisis. Washington, at the same time, is quietly backing Syria’s new government, hoping that stability can be restored through a balance of diplomacy and control.

Interestingly, there are rumours that Israel and the Syrian government have begun indirect talks about a possible diplomatic breakthrough. Some sources suggest Syria could even join the Abraham Accords, a series of peace agreements between Israel and Arab states though nothing has been confirmed.

U.S. officials like Special Envoy Tom Barrack have called the situation “worrisome,” stressing the importance of an inclusive solution that considers the needs of the Druze, the Syrian government, and Israel.

What’s next?

For now, a fragile calm has returned. Syrian troops have begun withdrawing heavy weapons from Suwayda, and Druze fighters have temporarily laid down their arms. 

But beneath the ceasefire lies an unresolved political struggle, one that could reignite at any moment.

As long as minority groups in Syria feel sidelined, and as long as outside powers like Israel and the U.S. continue to shape the battlefield from behind the scenes, peace will 

remain elusive.