Syria's al-Sharaa ‘not afraid’, vows justice for attacks on Druze people; Israel continues to strike Damascus
On Thursday, interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa of Syria emphasized that protecting the rights and safety of the Druze community is of utmost importance after Israel's commitment to take action against Syrian forces alleged to have assaulted Druze populations in the southern regions of Syria. In his first public statement broadcasted since Israel's recent intensive air assaults on Damascus, Sharaa reassured the Druze, declaring, “We will not allow any foreign entities to manipulate your situation.”
“We do not count ourselves among those who shy away from conflict. We have always confronted challenges and stood up for our people, prioritizing Syrian interests over chaos and devastation,” he stated, as per a report by Reuters. He went on to declare that Syrians are not afraid of warfare and stand ready to defend their honor if it is at stake.
Furthermore, Sharaa denounced Israel's extensive strikes on civilian and governmental locations, vowing to bring to justice anyone who has wronged the Druze community, according to AFP. He indicated that the security within Druze regions would be managed by local leaders and community groups. Sharaa is facing the challenge of unifying Syria amid significant mistrust among different factions worried about the possible emergence of Islamist governance. Tensions escalated in March due to mass killings targeting the Alawite minority, which further complicated community relations, as reported by Reuters.
The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to convene on Thursday to discuss the ongoing conflict, according to diplomats. “The council must denounce the atrocious acts perpetrated against innocent civilians on Syrian territory,” stated Israel's representative to the U.N., Danny Danon, as reported by Reuters. “Israel will persist in its firm stance against any terrorist threats along its borders, at any place and time.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned that all involved parties in the conflicts have agreed to soon cease the violence. In a statement on X, he noted, “We have come to an agreement on concrete measures that will bring this alarming and dreadful situation to a conclusion tonight,” though he did not share specifics. Rubio previously expressed that the U.S. is “very concerned” and “we wish for it to stop,” but refrained from urging Israel to cease its military actions.
via Blogger https://ift.tt/sJHeVwp
July 17, 2025 at 03:47PM
No comments:
Post a Comment