Syria’s Interim President Vows Protection for Druze Community Amid Israeli Airstrikes on Damascus

Syria’s Interim President Vows Protection for Druze Community Amid Israeli Airstrikes on Damascus In a powerful and emotionally charged speech, Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa addressed the nation for the first time since Israel launched a series of airstrikes on Damascus and surrounding areas. His remarks centered on the protection of Syria’s Druze community, a religious and ethnic minority caught in the middle of the escalating conflict. Al-Sharaa emphasized that safeguarding the rights and security of the Druze people remains one of his administration’s top priorities. The Druze, who number around 700,000 in Syria, have historically lived in relative isolation in mountainous regions, particularly in the southern governorate of Sweida. They follow a distinct monotheistic faith that originated in the 11th century, branching off from Islam, and have long sought to maintain their autonomy in a country torn apart by sectarian strife and civil war. Al-Sharaa’s Televised Sta...