Who are the Druze and why is Israel attacking Syria?
The Druze are a religious minority in the Middle East with an esoteric theology claiming to be derived from the original teachings of Islam. They are especially prominent in Syria, where they make up approximately 3.7% of the population and have historically enjoyed special privileges under successive regimes. Yet, in the current armed conflict between Israel and Syria, the Druze are finding themselves caught in the crossfire. This has prompted many to wonder why Israel is attacking Syria and the role of the Druze in this confrontation. In the
latest development
in the crisis,
Israel launched airstrikes
on
June 27
on Syrian
military targets
in the
governorate of Homs
,
centered around the Shayrat airbase
,
according to Syrian state media.
No injuries or deaths were reported.
What do we know so far about the conflict?
The
Shayrat airbase
was at the
center of a chemical attack
by the
Syrian government
on
April 4, 2017
, which
killed 87 people
,
including 30 children
,
in the nearby town of Khan Sheikhoun.
The
United States
responded by
launching cruise missiles
at
Shayrat airbase
,
inflicting significant damage
on the facility.
What does this mean for the future of the region?
With
Russia and Iran
supporting the
Assad regime
and
Israel
continuing to
target Iranian military interests
in
Syria
, the
conflict
shows no signs of abating.
