Israeli flag filmed flying in Syrian square but Druze community conflicted over alliance with Israel
A day after Israeli Air Force (IAF) fighter jets attacked a military site in the Qardahah area in Syria, footage of an Israeli flag being flown in the Druze area of Suwayda surfaced on social media.
The video, which was posted on Tuesday, appeared to have been documenting an enthusiastic response from some in the Syrian Druze community to Israel’s activity in Syria, after Netanyahu’s promise of protection.
The Druze have officially raised the Israeli flag in Sweida, Syria!
— Dr. Maalouf (@realMaalouf) March 3, 2025
This is a clear message to the Islamist regime: we have autonomy now and you cannot touch us.
🇮🇱🇸🇨
pic.twitter.com/3e133RL92n
However, it wasn’t long after the flag was hoisted up in the main square of the Druze city that a second video appeared of the flag being taken down, burned and stomped upon.
The two videos demonstrate the differing opinions within Syria’s Druze community regarding Israel, as Israel Defense Forces has ramped up military action in the south of the country.
Responding to developments in Syria, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said, “We will not allow the extreme Islamic regime in Syria to harm the Druze. If the regime harms the Druze, it will be struck by us.” He added, “We are committed to our Druze brothers in Israel to do everything to prevent harm to their Druze brothers in Syria, and we will take all the steps required to maintain their safety.”
Israel’s commitment follows the collective request from Syria’s Druze community leaders asking to be annexed to Israel. In response, Israel has promised protection, if not annexation.
Despite the apparently unanimous request from the Druze leaders, the reaction to Israel’s activities in Syria has received a mixed response.
Six days ago, a video was posted of a Druze man in Syria declaring, “For his eminence, Sheik Mowafaq Tarif, and our people in Israel, and for Bu ’shebl, Monhal Atshi, for the people of the Galilee, the Carmel, Julis and Kiera: Today we will pledge our allegiance to the State of Israel.”
However, there has also been footage of hundreds of Druze joining a Syrian demonstration condemning Israel's involvement, singing a Syrian national song and chanting anti-Zionist slogans. While Syrian flags are seen flying, the five-colored flag of the Druze is noticeably absent.
In a post by Israeli Druze commentator Mansor Ashkar and two others, the reluctance to openly praise Israel is attributed to “fear of being labeled traitors to Syria and targeted by jihadists.” They note that the Druze instinctively conceal their cultural identity to avoid negative consequences and persecution.
The post also portrays the dilemma the Druze community in Syria now finds itself in.
“The hate and verbal assaults against the Druze are overwhelming. Syrians and extremists from the Muslim Arab world never targeted the groups that invited the Turkish occupation or murdered our Kurdish brothers and sisters, despite most Kurds being Muslim! They never spoke out when jihadists from all over the world came to persecute the Alawites. But extremists will always find a reason to hate the Druze. If this is how they treat us, they shouldn't be surprised or angry when we turn to Israel for protection.”
Many Druze identify closely with Syrian Arab nationalism and hold a deep distrust of Israel spurred on by extremely anti-Israel state media.
As a minority, the Druze fear persecution from Muslim extremists in Syria, but also loss of their cultural identity, which some perceive as being at risk under Israeli control. It is understandable why alignment with Israel might be considered a politically sensitive move in the region.
“Overall, while some Druze accept Israel's help, others reject it due to ideological, historical, and political concerns,” according to the assessment of the Druze commentators. “However, the Druze Youth Movement is playing a crucial role in uniting Druze people across various countries.”
Jo Elizabeth has a great interest in politics and cultural developments, studying Social Policy for her first degree and gaining a Masters in Jewish Philosophy from Haifa University, but she loves to write about the Bible and its primary subject, the God of Israel. As a writer, Jo spends her time between the UK and Jerusalem, Israel.
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