Syrian clashes: Israel eyes a road to Iran

Syria, a country that has been struggling to survive after decades long conflict, is once again at the edge of an explosive conflict. This time the fight between Druze militias and Bedouin tribes men in the Suwayda province of southern Syria have claimed hundreds of lives including civilians. The tensions between these two religious ethnic groups in the border province is nothing new. The disputes over land resources are common. But the recent escalation of the strife between two groups caused widespread displacement and sporadic violence.

The Druze community is a Shia sect that originated in 11th century in Egypt. There is a Druze population of nearly a million all over the world and most of them live in Syria, Lebanon and Israel, predominantly in three southern provinces of Syria. Bedouin tribes are mostly nomadic and Sunni Muslims. What made the latest skirmishes a major escalation is not merely the sectarian conflict but the intervention of Israel. The Zionist army launched attacks on Syrian forces in Suwayda and even bombed the Syrian military headquarters in Damascus. Now, the moot point here is why Israel crossed the Syrian border and attacked government forces and buildings. What are the interests of Netanyahu administration in these tensions?

If we believe what Israel claims, the move is to protect the Druze minority from Bedouin fighters who has the backing of Syrian forces. That’s what the statement of Netanyahu indicates . “We have set forth a clear policy: demilitarization of the region to south of Damascus, from the Golan Heights and to the Druze Mountain area. That's rule number one. Rule number two is protecting the brothers of our brothers, the Druze at the Druze Mountain”.

The reality is different. It is not any love for the Druze, but there is an ulterior motive in the move of Israel which is o deepen the sectarian divisions in Syria. . Nothing noble can be expected from a rogue state and its war criminal premier.

Druze and Bedouin

Bedouin Arabs, the Sunni Muslims support Ahmed Al Sharaa whose Islamist forces toppled the dictatorial Assad regime last December. The Druze, a Shia sect in general are not in favour of a Sunni dispensation. But they have a representative in the Al Sharaa cabinet and are indeed demanding more representation in the government . On the contrary, the Druze population in Israel threw their weight behind Israeli government though they are treated as second class citizens in the Jewish state. Some of them even serve in Israeli army. It is also notable that the Druze people in Syria are divided in their support for Israel. Though they do have ideological differences with Al Sharaa administration, they don’t welcome the Israeli military presence in Suwayda . Of course, there are also some who welcome the Israeli incursion. The fact is that Druze in Syria has no prominent leader like in Israel. They are divided in their support for Israel.

Fishing in the troubled waters

What Israel aims is not actually to help the Druze. It wants to create its military hegemony over its neighbours and weaken the country that may pose a potential threat . That’s why Israel attacked Syria soon after Islamist forces took over the regime defeating Bashar Al Assad. It advanced beyond the buffer zone and captured almost 180 square kilometres from Syria. To the right wing government of Benjamin Netanyahu, Ahmed Al Sharaa is still an extremist and a possible threat to the Zionist entity., although the Syrianleader has publicly declared that his focus now is not to take on Israel. Netanyahu's motive is clear: to destabilise the its strong neighbours. Basically Israel is looking beyond embattled Syria. It aims to reach out rather mighty Iran and to weaken the Ayatollah regime, an aim not yet achieved. The 12 days war hasn’t succeeded in its goal of dismantling its nuclear stockpiles; in addition, Israel had to face unprecedented damage from Iranian attacks.

Interestingly, Ahmed Al Sharaa, a former Al Qaeda fighter is on a conciliatory mood even towards Israel. His military officials held talks with Israeli officials at Baku on 22 July. The United States wants Syria to join in the Abraham accord, a bridge to channelize diplomatic relations between Arab countries and Israel. Abraham Accords is nothing but a strategic move in disguise to unite Arab countries against Iran, at least to mute the dissenting voices. And of course, the former Al Qaeda and IS fighter is on a diplomatic route.